These studies were conducted to determine whether preservation of the functional integrity of the membrane, Na+,K+-stimulated ATPase is essential for the atrial natriuretic factor (r-ANF-8-33) to enhance guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) content in the rat aortic smooth muscle. In freshly dissected rat aortic tissues, levels of cGMP were estimated using radioimmunoassay. 2. ANF (0.1 mumol/L in Krebs-Henseleit media) produced significant elevation in cGMP levels in the aortic smooth muscle when compared with that incubated in the control media, whereas suppression of Na+-pump with ouabain (1.0 mmol/L) and/or K+-free media did not produce any significant changes in the basal cGMP level; these two experimental manoeuvres did not prevent enhancement of cGMP by ANF. 3. Incubation of the tissues in the media containing ouabain plus vasoconstrictor concentrations of norepinephrine (0.3 mumol/L) also did not alter basal cGMP levels and did not prevent the ability of ANF to elevate cGMP. 4. These studies demonstrate that the antagonism by ouabain, of vasorelaxant effects of ANF (as reported in the literature) are not due to the prevention of the ability of ANF to enhance cGMP levels in the arterial smooth muscle. It is proposed that such an antagonism may be related to the actions of ouabain and ANF on diverse, and perhaps independent, mechanisms which affect Ca2+-fluxes across the cell membrane.
