Endogenous ANP augments fractional excretion of Pi, Ca, and Na in rats with reduced renal mass.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) infusion increases fractional excretion of many solutes including sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, calcium, and magnesium. Because fractional excretion of these solutes increases with advancing renal disease, and because plasma ANP levels are known to be elevated in chronic renal failure, we sought to determine whether ANP mediates increased solute excretion rates per nephron in rats following extensive renal ablation, a model of chronic renal failure. Because sodium restriction decreases plasma ANP levels in the setting of reduced renal mass, we also determined the effect of sodium restriction on sodium, phosphate, calcium, and magnesium excretion rates in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy (NX). We also assessed whether high endogenous ANP levels influence fractional sodium, phosphate, calcium, and magnesium excretion in rats with 5/6 NX, by inhibiting ANP action via infusion of a high-affinity ANP antiserum. Whole-kidney glomerular filtration rate in 5/6 NX rats averaged approximately one-third that of shams, and plasma ANP levels were significantly elevated in these rats above those of shams, but to a lesser extent in rats on low- vs. high-salt intakes. Fractional sodium, phosphate, and calcium, but not magnesium excretion rates were significantly greater in 5/6 NX rats on the higher sodium intake compared with those in 5/6 NX rats on the lower sodium intake. Moreover, in 5/6 NX rats on the higher sodium intake, ANP antiserum significantly reduced fractional sodium, phosphate, and calcium excretion, but was without effect on magnesium excretion. These data implicate endogenous ANP in promoting the adaptive increase in sodium, phosphate, calcium, but not magnesium excretion per nephron in chronic renal disease.