Three peptides from the ANF prohormone NH(2)-terminus are natriuretic and/or kaliuretic.

The present investigation was designed to determine whether peptides derived from the NH(2)-terminal portion of the 126-amino acid prohormone (pro) of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) have natriuretic and diuretic properties similar to ANF. Three peptides consisting of amino acids 1-30 [(proANF-(1-30)], 31-67 [proANF-(31-67)], and 79-98 (proANF-(79-98)] of the ANF prohormone were tested and compared with the COOH-terminus peptide (ANF) with respect to their ability to increase urine volume, urine sodium and potassium excretion, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in anesthetized Munich-Wistar rats. Each of these peptides except proANF-(79-98) caused a significant diuresis (P less than 0.05) when infused at their respective 100 ng.kg body wt-1.min-1 concentrations for 120 min. ProANFs-(1-30), (31-67), (79-98), and (99-126) (ANF) increased sodium excretion by 231, 973, 167, and 1,405%, respectively. The fractional excretion of sodium compared with control was significant at P less than 0.05, P less than 0.01, and P less than 0.05 for proANFs (1-30), (31-67), and (99-126), respectively. ProANF-(79-98) did not significantly increase the fractional excretion of sodium, but it was the only peptide from the NH(2)-terminus of the prohormone that significantly increased the fractional excretion of potassium's ProANF-(31-67) did not increase urinary potassium excretion. ProANF-(1-30), (79-98), and ANF significantly (P less than 0.05) increased urinary potassium excretion. None of these peptides significantly enhanced GFR. In conclusion, three peptides from the NH(2)-terminus of the ANF prohormone as well as ANF (the COOH-terminus) have either natriuretic, kaliuretic, and/or diuretic properties, but the respective ability of each of these peptides to produce these effects varies considerably.