Effect of a chronic infusion of atrial natriuretic factor on glomerular and vascular receptors in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

To investigate the effect of a prolonged infusion of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on its vascular and glomerular receptors, ANF (Ser 99-Tyr 126) was chronically administered (100 ng/h) for 7 days by osmotic minipumps to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Blood pressure in the SHR fell from 149 +/- 5 to 119 +/- 3 mmHg 5 days after the ANF infusion was initiated, whereas no changes were observed in ANF-infused WKY rats. The SHR had higher plasma levels of both ANF (1-98) and (99-126) than the normotensive controls, but the ANF infusion did not modify these values in either group. Diuresis, natriuresis and haematocrit remained unchanged during the infusion. The higher plasma ANF levels noted in the SHR were associated with a decreased density (Bmax) and enhanced affinity (Kd) of ANF-binding sites in the mesenteric vessels. This pattern was not modified by the ANF infusion. The hypertensive animals had glomerular ANF receptors with a higher affinity than the WKY rats. The Bmax of these receptors was decreased significantly in ANF-infused SHR and WKY rats compared with non-infused animals. We conclude that the lack of change in vascular ANF receptors, during chronic ANF infusion in the SHR, could be associated with the hypotensive response.