CHARACTERIZATION AND REGULATION OF RELEASE OF ATRIAL NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES

哺乳动物的心房包含一个肽家族， 称为心房钠尿肽（ANP），其来源于一种常见的 前体，并具有内在的利钠，利尿，血管舒张，和 内分泌效应 合成ANP的可用性使得 放射免疫测定（RIA）的发展定位和表征 各种心房外ANP 已经开发出了用于 血浆ANP的测定，以澄清哪些ANP是 生理重要性或在体内释放。 最近的免疫细胞化学和RIA分布研究已经定位了ANP的 提示ANP参与中枢神经系统 心血管调节事件和在释放和/或合成 某些脑下垂体激素 对可能的额外支持 ANP参与调节垂体功能 证明了高亲和力，特异性ANP结合位点， 存在于脑下垂体膜上。 最后，ANP的两种形式是 存在于血浆中，并且它们从心房的释放通过 心房牵张受体以及肾上腺素能，胆碱能， 和血管加压素能激动剂。 我们目前正在评估乙醇对ANP系统的影响， 动物和ANP的可能参与某些心血管疾病 与患者中酒精相关疾病相关的病理学。

The mammalian cardiac atria contain a family of peptides, collectively termed atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP's), which are derived from a common precursor and possess intrinsic natriuretic, diuretic, vasorelaxant, and endocrine effects. The availability of synthetic ANP's has enabled the development of radioimmunoassays (RIA's) to localize and characterize the various extraatrial ANP's. Sound methods have been developed for the determination of plasma ANP's in order to clarify which ANP's are physiologically importance or released in vivo. Recent immunocytochemical and RIA distribution studies have localized ANP's to areas of the CNS that suggest the ANP's are involved in central cardiovascular regulatory events and in the release and/or synthesis of certain pituitary gland hormones. Additional support for the possible involvement of ANP's in regulating pituitary gland function was obtained with the demonstration that high-affinity, specific ANP binding sites are present on pituitary gland membranes. Finally, two forms of ANP are present in plasma, and their release is enhanced from the atria by activation of atrial-stretch receptors, as well as adrenergic, cholinergic, and vasopressinergic agonists. We are currently evaluating the effect of ethanol on the ANP system in animals and the possible involvement of ANP's in certain cardiovascular pathologies associated with alcohol-related disorders in patients.