Inhibition of water-sodium intestinal absorption by an atrial extract.

The rat atrium contains a diuretic and natriuretic factor which appears to inhibit the sodium reabsorption in the kidney tubules. We observed, in rats, that our atrial extract possesses a potent diuretic and natriuretic effect that was accompanied by an increased dextrose excretion. Similarly, extracts of rat atria, but not of ventricles, reduced intestinal absorption of water, sodium, and dextrose. The omission of sodium or dextrose in the perfusion fluid annulled this effect. These data suggest that the substance inhibiting the intestinal absorption of water and solutes is probably atrial natriuretic factor and that it acts on the sodium-dextrose cotransport mechanism.