Defective stretch-induced release of atrial natriuretic peptide from aging hypertensive rat heart: possible role of phosphatidylinositol pathway.

Because the phosphatidylinositol pathway may be part of the signaling system associated with stretch-induced release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), we tested the hypothesis that formation of the intermediate inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) is impaired when ANP release is decreased in response to atrial stretch in hearts from aging genetically hypertensive (GH) rats. Immunoreactive ANP release into the coronary effluent and IP3 levels were studied in cardiac tissues of isolated perfused hearts from normotensive control (WAG) or GH rats aged 4, 11, or 16 months. Left atria were repeatedly distended and released with a latex balloon. ANP was measured in coronary effluent, and IP3 was measured in cardiac tissues. In all age groups, stretch and relief of stretch evoked considerably less ANP release in spontaneously beating hearts from GH than from WAG rats. Hearts from GH rats aged 16 months released no ANP, but electrical pacing restored some stretch-induced ANP secretion. With repeated stretch and release of stretch of the left atrium for 2 min, IP3 levels increased in left atrial tissue in WAG but not in GH hearts of all age groups. IP3 levels in (unstretched) left ventricles were much lower than in left atria and were unaltered by atrial stretch. In aging GH rats, the capacity to release ANP on atrial stretch is largely lost, in association with complete suppression of stimulus-induced increase in IP3 levels. These data support a role for IP3 in stretch-mediated atrial ANP secretion and suggest a progressive uncoupling of this signaling pathway in aging hypertensive rats.