Effect of atriopeptin II on determinants of glomerular filtration rate in the in vitro perfused dog glomerulus

Abstract

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a peptide originally found to be present in extracts of mammalian atria that possess marked natriuretic and diuretic qualities. A number of mechanisms have been suggested to explain these properties. Recently, it has been suggested that ANF may enhance glomerular filtration. In this report, we describe a series of experiments designed to investigate if atriopeptin II, a 23-amino acid synthetic analogue of ANF, increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and, if so, the mechanism for this increase. We used the isolated perfused glomerulus technique (n = 6), which allows a single isolated glomerular unit to be perfused and the determinants of single-nephron GFR (SNGFR) to be measured. Two periods were performed in each experiment, the control followed by the experimental. The only difference between the two periods was the addition of atriopeptin II to the experimental perfusate at a final concentration of 5 X 10(-7) M. There was indeed a significant increase in the SNGFR (78 +/- 27 to 108 +/- 29 nl/min, P less than 0.01). This increase was associated with a significant increase in the glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure (PGC) from 31 +/- 3 to 35 +/- 3 mmHg (P less than 0.05). The filtration fraction also increased in each experiment (from 0.16 +/- 0.3 to 0.25 +/- 0.03, P less than 0.005). Neither the afferent flow nor the efferent arteriolar flow changed, although there was a tendency for both to decrease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)