Differing biological effects of equimolar atrial and brain natriuretic peptide infusions in normal man

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are cardiac hormones with similar actions and potency in humans yet with distinctly different effects on plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Because most biological actions of natriuretic peptides are thought to be mediated by the guanylate cyclase (G-C) receptors via cGMP, we have compared the biological and G-C-stimulating effects of equimolar infusions of ANP and BNP (2 pmol/kg . min), or vehicle control, on renal, hormonal and hemody namic function in 8 normal subjects. In addition, the modulating effects of ANP and BNP on the biological actions of infused angiotensin II (AngII) were studied. During ANP infusions, plasma ANP concentration increased from 8.8 +/- 0.7 pmol/L to 34 +/- 3 pmol/L at 120 min. Similar increments in plasma BNP occurred during BNP infusions (7.3 +/- 0.6 pmol/L preinfusion, 37 +/- 1 pmol/L at 120 min). Increase in plasma cGMP during ANP infusions was 4-fold that observed during BNP infusions yet natriuresis, contraction in plasma volume, and inhibition of plasma aldosterone were comparable. By contrast, ANP (but not BNP) significantly inhibited the plasma aldosterone response to AngII (P < 0.001). The presser response to AngII was unaltered by ANP or BNP. Thus, at plasma ANP/BNP levels observed in mild heart failure, ANP is more potent than BNP in inhibiting the aldosterone response to AngII. Comparable natriuresis and inhibition of basal aldosterone is seen, despite much less stimulation of plasma cGMP by BNP, suggesting a different mechanism of hormone action - possibly via non-G-C receptor pathways.