Atrial natriuretic peptide and extracellular volume contraction after birth.

Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured in full-term newborns immediately after birth and on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th day of life. The ANP concentrations were within the normal range in the first hours of life. Plasma concentrations of ANP had increased significantly on the 3rd and 5th day of life, while body weight decreased continuously. After the 5th day of life ANP concentration decreased continuously reaching its minimum on the 10th day whereas body weight increased. The mechanism behind ANP release shortly after birth is not known. The increase in ANP concentration in plasma may however induce changes in body fluid compartments shortly after birth which would result in physiological weight loss.