Atrial natriuretic peptide relation to plasma and heart zinc concentrations of Wistar rats exposed to cold and hot ambients.
Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and zinc levels, as well as heart tissue zinc concentrations were determined, in male Wistar rats after the exposure of 114 rats at low temperature (4 degrees C) and 95 rats at high temperature (35-36 degrees C) for 28 d. Plasma ANP was estimated by radioimmunoassay and Zn2+ concentrations by atomic absorption spectrometry. Values were compared to a control group exposed at 20-22 degrees C (76 rats). Plasma ANP and Zn2+ levels, as well as heart tissue Zn2+ concentrations of control rats did not show statistically significant variations during the study, whereas rats exposed to cold and hot ambients showed significant variations of the parameters. A significant increase of plasma ANP and plasma zinc and heart tissue Zn2+ concentrations developed during cold exposure, whereas a gradual decrease of plasma ANP and Zn2+ levels was revealed during hot adaptation. Results also indicate that plasma ANP and zinc levels are proportionally related, whereas there is an inverse relationship between plasma ANP levels and heart Zn2+ concentrations, in both cold and hot exposed rats. In conclusion, our results show that ANP in relation to zinc probably play an important role in cold and hot acclimatization of rats.
Vezyraki
P
P
Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece.
Kalfakakoy
V
V
Papagiannis
I
I
Evangelou
A
A
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D015032:Zinc