The natriuretic peptides: universal volume controllers.
Since the discovery of the natriuretic effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a family of other natriuretic peptides similar to ANP were isolated, including atriopeptin, vessel dilator, long-acting natriuretic peptide, urodilatin, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to name a few. ANP was noted to possess natriuretic and diuretic properties that controlled increases in intravascular volume. ANP was also found to be elevated in conditions of increased intraocular pressure and biliary obstruction. BNP was found to be elevated in conditions of increased intracranial pressure, pointing towards its role in controlling cerebrospinal fluid volume. While at the cellular level, ANP controlled individual cell size. This makes the natriuretic peptides not only controllers of intravascular volume, but also modulators of a myriad of cavity volumes down to the control of individual cell volume.
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University of South Florida and James A. Haley VA Hospital, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA. symbolic1@netscape.edu
D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D001826:Body Fluids; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000502:physiology*
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor