Effect of chronic treatment with angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors on circulating atrial natriuretic polypeptide in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We have recently shown that circulating atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is higher than that in age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The present experiment was designed to examine the possible effects of chronic treatment with angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) on plasma ANP levels in SHR. Captopril and enalapril lowered blood pressure and reduced relative ventricular weight in SHR but not to the level of WKY. Plasma ANP levels were decreased by captopril and enalapril compared with untreated SHR. These results suggest that the ANP release may be suppressed in ACEI-treated SHR compared with untreated SHR. We speculate that a reduction of cardiac overload by ACEI may in part explain the decline of circulating ANP.