Binding of angiotensin and atrial natriuretic peptide in brain of hypertensive rats.

Atrial natriuretic peptides, produced in the mammalian cardiac atrium, are released into the general circulation and may be actively involved in the control of blood pressure and in fluid homeostasis as antagonists of the peripheral angiotensin system. Certain cardiovascular effects of atrial natriuretic peptides may be centrally mediated, as binding sites for atrial natriuretic factor (8-33) (ANF) have been localized to the subfornical organ. This circumventricular structure lacks a blood-brain barrier and is therefore accessible to circulating peptides. It contains large numbers of angiotensin II (AII) binding sites, and has been suggested as the main central site of action for circulating AII in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid metabolism. Here we have studied binding sites for rat atrial natriuretic peptide(6-33) (rANP) and AII in the brains of spontaneously (genetic) hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive controls, Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, by quantitative autoradiography. Binding sites for both peptides were highly localized in the subfornical organ. The number of rANP binding sites was decreased in the subfornical organ of both young (4 weeks old) and adult (14 weeks old) SHR compared with age-matched normotensive controls. Conversely, the number of AII binding sites was higher in both young and adult SHR compared with WKY rats. Our results suggest a central role for rANP and AII in genetic hypertension; they may act as mutual antagonists in brain areas involved in control of blood pressure and fluid regulation.