title: Atrial granules in the dog heart after cardiac denervation.
abstract: Because the increase in sodium excretion during left atrial distension in conscious dogs is abolished after chronic cardiac denervation, we have investigated whether this is a result of the disappearance of specific atrial granules. Electron microscopy and light-microscopical and ultrastructural immunohistochemistry of canine atria show that atrial granules displaying immunoreactivity for cardiac hormones of the cardiodilatin/atrial natriuretic polypeptide (CDD/ANP) family are still present in denervated left and right atria, although reduced in quantity. It is concluded that the "atrial-induced natriuresis" is not only related to the existence of specific atrial granules. The functional link between atrial-induced natriuresis provoked by atrial distension and the release of atrial polypeptide hormones remains uncertain because the denervated heart can secrete CDD although the diuretic-natriuretic effect is altered.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000032:analysis; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003714:Denervation; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009206:Myocardium / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor