Immunoreactive C-type natriuretic peptide in human adrenal glands and adrenal tumors.

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in human adrenal glands and adrenal tumors was measured with a specific radioimmunoassay for CNP. Tissue immunoreactive (IR-) CNP concentrations were 0.54 +/- 0.40 pmol/g wet tissue (gwt) (mean +/- SD) in 14 pheochromocytomas, 0.69 +/- 0.19 pmol/gwt in six adrenocortical tumors, and 0.49 +/- 0.22 pmol/gwt in seven normal adrenal glands (cortex and medulla mixed). These concentrations were comparable to those found in tissues from human brains. Sephadex G-50 superfine column chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography revealed that IR-CNP in normal adrenal glands and pheochromocytoma consisted of at least two components: a component in low molecular weight form chromatographically identical to CNP-22 and the other, a high molecular weight form very similar to human CNP-53. This study has shown that IR-CNP is present in human adrenal glands and adrenal tumors with similar molecular forms and comparable concentrations to those in the human brain.