Atrial natriuretic polypeptide in spinal cord and autonomic ganglia.

Using a radioimmunoassay for alpha-rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-rANP), tissue levels of alpha-rANP-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in the rat spinal cord and autonomic ganglia were investigated. The alpha-rANP-LI level was higher in the more caudal parts of the spinal cord and the highest in the sacral spinal cord. alpha-rANP-LI was also detected in the superior cervical and coeliac ganglia. Gel permeation chromatographic analysis showed that the major peak of alpha-rANP-LI in the spinal cord was a low molecular weight form co-eluted with synthetic alpha-rANP. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that alpha-rANP-LI with a low molecular weight in the spinal cord consisted of several components, two major components of which co-migrated with synthetic alpha-rANP (4-28) and alpha-rANP (5-28), whereas little immunoreactivity was eluted at the position of alpha-rANP. These findings suggest the involvement of ANP in the function of the spinal cord and autonomic nervous system.