Vasodilatory and diuretic actions of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP).

Vascular and diuretic actions of synthetic alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP) were studied using anesthetized dogs and isolated canine arterial strip preparations. alpha-hANP, when given intra-arterially or intravenously, dilated the renal artery more selectively than the vertebral, femoral, common carotid and coronary arteries. alpha-hANP selectively relaxed the high K+-contracted renal artery strip as compared with the basilar, coronary and femoral arterial strips. Intravenous alpha-hANP also increased urine volume and urinary excretion of electrolytes at doses, at which it increased renal blood flow and lowered systemic blood pressure without changing heart rate. It is concluded that alpha-hANP has a vasodilatory property relatively specific for the renal artery, and that it possesses diuretic, natriuretic, kaliuretic, magnesiuretic, calciuretic and chloruretic activities concomitantly with a definite hypotensive activity.