Atrial natriuretic factor inhibits the stimulated in-vivo and in-vitro release of vasopressin and oxytocin in the rat.

The effect of an atrial natriuretic peptide on the secretion of the neurohypophysial peptides arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin has been studied in vivo and in vitro. Atriopeptin III was administered intracerebroventricularly to conscious rats and plasma concentrations of AVP and oxytocin were determined both in controls and in rats which had their drinking water replaced by 2% NaCl. The release of both AVP and oxytocin was inhibited when basal levels were increased by the saline treatment. The inhibition of AVP release lasted for 40 min whereas oxytocin release was inhibited for 10 min only. In a further experiment the stimulated release of AVP and oxytocin from the isolated neurointermediate lobe of the rat was also inhibited by atriopeptin III.