Differential regional expression of three natriuretic peptide receptor genes within primate tissues.

The natriuretic peptide receptors are three homologous cell surface proteins, each with a single transmembrane domain. The atrial natriuretic peptide receptor type A (ANPRA) and the homologous receptor type B (ANPRB) are both membrane guanylyl cyclases that synthesize cyclic GMP as an intracellular second messenger. The third receptor in this family, the atrial natriuretic peptide receptor type C (ANPRC), is not coupled to cyclic GMP production. We report on the distribution of the ANPRA, ANPRB, and ANPRC mRNAs in rhesus monkey tissues assayed by in situ hybridization. ANPRA mRNA is most abundantly expressed in the kidney glomerulus, adrenal zona glomerulosa, pituitary, cerebellum, and endocardial endothelial cells of the right and left atrium and right ventricle. In contrast, abundant ANPRB expression appears to be confined to the adrenal medulla, pituitary, and cerebellum. ANPRC mRNA appeared to be expressed very differently than ANPRA and ANPRB. In the heart, ANPRC mRNA is expressed most prominently in endocardial endothelial cells of all four chambers but is also found throughout the myocardium only in the right atrium. These data identify major sites of natriuretic peptide receptor mRNA expression and suggest that there may be prominent cell type-specific differential distribution of these receptors in central and peripheral targets for the natriuretic peptides.