title: Chronic ethanol treatment increases the circulating plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP-45) in the rat.
abstract: Chronic ethanol ingestion is associated with a number of cardiovascular disorders, including stroke, heart failure, and hypertension. Given that the regulation of A-type natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is known to be altered in both congestive heart failure and essential hypertension, we have investigated the regulation of BNP under the influence of ethanol ingestion. Sprague-Dawley rats were given ethanol in drinking fluid for a 6-week period, while a weight-matched liquid-restricted group received an equivalent volume of ethanol-free solution. Plasma BNP levels were increased in ethanol-treated animals relative to both liquid-restricted and normal control groups. No changes in cardiac BNP gene expression were observed, but an increased trend in atrial tissue BNP levels was evident. No changes in either the mRNA, tissue, or plasma levels of ANP were evident. These results suggest a differential regulation of natriuretic peptides under the influence of ethanol, and implicate chronic ethanol ingestion as a further clinical condition under which the plasma levels of a natriuretic peptide may be elevated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wigle
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Sarda
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Radakovic
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Flynn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000097:blood*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C073021:brain natriuretic peptide-45; D000431:Ethanol