Both Nifedipine and Bay K 8644 Potentiate the Release of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Response to Volume Expansion

The effects of a calcium channel blocker and an activator on the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were investigated in rats. They were volume expanded (VE) up to 5% of the body weight over 30min by being infused with iso-oncotic saline. Following VE, plasma ANP concentration markedly increased in association with increases in the right atrial pressure. Addition of either nifedipine ($0.4{\mu}m/min$) or Bay K 8644 ($0.4{\mu}m/min$) in the infusate potentiated the VE-induced release, although neither of them affected the right atrial pressure. The nifedipine added group showed a lower mean arterial pressure than the Bay K added group throughout the infusion period. VE decreased plasma renin concentration, the magnitude of which was attenuated by nifedipine but not by Bay K. It may be hypothesized that a decrease in cytoplasmic calcium is primary stimulus far the ANP release, and an increase plays o role in secondary liberation of the ANP accumulated in the interstitium into the lumen of the atria through myocardial contraction. further studies will be needed to confirm the hypothesis.