Neuromodulatory effects of atrial natriuretic peptides correlate with an inhibition of adenylate cyclase but not an activation of guanylate cyclase.

We reported previously that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and the ANF clearance receptor binding peptide, C-ANF(4-23)-NH2 (C-ANF), inhibit catecholamine (CA) release from rat, nerve growth factor-treated pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) by a guanylate cyclase independent mechanism. This mechanism is most likely a pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive inhibition of adenylate cyclase. This study examines the role of the second messengers, cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP), in mediating atrial natriuretic factor effects on depolarization-induced CA release from PC12 cells. The following evidence supports the hypothesis that the neuromodulatory action of atrial peptides is independent of increases in cGMP: 1) ANF does not potentiate the inhibitory effect of C-ANF on CA release or cAMP generation but still elevates cGMP concentrations in the presence of C-ANF; 2) the neuromodulatory effects of ANF and C-ANF are blocked or reversed by a membrane permeable analog of cAMP, dibutyryl cAMP; 3) ANF and C-ANF attenuate CA release in the presence of a maximally effective concentration of dibutyryl cGMP; 4) the inhibitory effect of dibutyryl cGMP is PTX-insensitive whereas the atrial peptide effect is blocked by PTX-pretreatment; and 5) dibutyryl cGMP is without effect on adenylate cyclase. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that ANF and C-ANF act via the ANF clearance (R2) receptor to suppress adenylate cyclase activity and neurotransmission.