Low-dose C-type natriuretic peptide does not affect cardiac and renal function in humans

In experimental animals, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) has vasodilating, hypotensive, and natriuretic activities. The: role of circulating CNP in the overall regulation of cardiac and renal function in hum;ms is less defined, in both health and disease. We measured cardiac volumes,diastolic and systolic functions, systemic (Doppler echocardiography) and renal hemodynamics, intrarenal sodium handling (lithium clearance method), plasma and urinary cGMP, plasma renin concentration, and plasma aldosterone level in Sis healthy volunteers (mean age, 33+/-3 years) receiving CNP (2 and 4 pmol/kg per minute for 1 hour each) ill a single-blind, placebo-controlled, random-order, crossover study. During CNP infusion, plasma CNP increased from 1.17+/-0.23 to 41.52+/-4.61 pmol/L (ie, 4- to 10-fold higher levels than those observed ill disease states) without affecting plasma and urinary cGMP, cardiac volumes, dynamics of left and right heart filling, cardiac output, arterial pressure, rend hemodynamics, intrarenal sodium handling, sodium excretion, or plasma levels of renin and aldosterone. The finding that increments in plasma CNP within the pathophysiological range have no effects on systemic hemodynamics, renal function, or the renin-angiotensin system do not support the hypothesis that CNP may act as a circulating hormone in humans.