Renal effects of atrial natriuretic factor in the rats of different ages.

Renal effects of an atrial natriuretic factor preparation were compared in 15, 28 and 66-day-old rats. This factor, prepared from atrial tissue of adult rats, was more effective in 28 and 66-day-old rats than in 15-day-old rats. There was a 6 fold increase of sodium excretion in 15-day-old rats and a 60 fold increase in 28-day-old rats. There was also a 15 fold increase in renal sodium excretion in 66-day-old rats receiving a higher dose (0.1 ml/animal). As indicated by the sodium potassium ratio, the increase in renal excretion of sodium was distinctly more pronounced than the increase in renal potassium excretion. In 15, 28 and 60-day-old rats, the increase of urine volume was 2 fold, 4 fold and 5 fold, respectively. The increase of fractional sodium excretion (FE) in rats receiving an atrial factor preparation was distinctly more pronounced than the increase of GFR. In all experiments, the preparation from ventricular tissue of the same animals was ineffective in producing natriuresis or diuresis.