A C-TYPE NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE IS A VASODILATOR INVIVO AND INVITRO IN THE COMMON DOGFISH

The effects of an elasmbranch cardiac C-type natriuretic peptide (dogfish CNP-22) on arterial blood pressure were investigated in vivo in chronically cannulated dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula and in vitro by a myographic technique using the distal part of the first branchial artery. In-vivo dogfish CNP-22 caused a dose-dependent reduction in mean arterial blood pressure which was much more potent than that of alpha-human ANP. In-vitro dogfish CNP-22 also caused a dose-dependent relaxation which was independent of the endothelium. These results are in marked contrast to those obtained in similar studies on other vertebrate species in which CNP exhibited only mild hypotensive effects compared to both atrial and brain natriuretic peptides. This study indicates the importance of using homologous peptides in determing the physiological role of natriuretic peptides in non-mammalian vertebrates.