BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF ATRIAL NATRIURETIC FACTOR ON ISCHEMICALLY INJURED KIDNEYS IN THE RAT

Abstract

In a rat experimental study we investigated whether the atrial natriuretic peptide by itself is able to improve early renal function after an ischemic injury. Two groups of Wistar male rats underwent a right nephrectomy and a left renal artery occlusion for 30 min and were infused for 2 hr after ischemia with isotonic saline or rat atrial natriuretic peptides (.alpha.ANF:28 amino acids (AP 28) and atriopeptin III (AP 24): 24 amino acids). ANF infusion increased the urinary flow (P < 0.001), the urinary sodium concentration (P < 0.001), the sodium excretion rate (P < 0.001), and improved the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) recovery (P < 0.02) determined at the end of the 2-hr infusion period. AP 24 exhibited higher natriuretics activities than AP 28. The effect of both peptides upon GRF recovery was equivalent. These effects of ANF observed after acute ischemia suggest that this peptide may be beneficial on the resumption of renal function in the early phases following transplantation.