Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits the stimulation of aldosterone secretion by ACTH in vitro and in vivo.

Previous studies have shown that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) inhibits the secretion of aldosterone by isolated adrenal glomerulosa cells stimulated by angiotensin II, ACTH and potassium in vitro and by angiotensin II in conscious unrestrained rats. In this study we investigated further the effects of synthetic ANP on the dose-response curve of aldosterone secretion stimulated by ACTH in vitro. ANP displaced the dose-response curve of aldosterone to ACTH to the right with a significant change in EC50. A similar effect of ANP was reproduced in vivo in conscious unrestrained rats. There was no significant effect of ANP on the corticosterone response to ACTH in vivo. ANP is a potent regulator of aldosterone secretion which may modulate the effects of ACTH on the adrenal in vitro and in vivo.