Effect of natriuretic peptides on in vitro stimulated adrenocorticotropic hormone release and pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA expression by the fetal rat pituitary gland in late gestation.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effects of individual natriuretic peptides (atrial natriuretic peptide, ANP; brain natriuretic peptide, BNP, and C-type natriuretic peptide, CNP) on rat corticotropin-releasing factor stimulated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion by the pituitary gland of 21-day-old rat fetuses in vitro and on pro-opiomelanocortin gene expression using in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
Graded concentrations of ANP, BNP, or CNP (10(-10), 10(-9), and 10(-8) mol/l) induced a log dose dependent inhibition of ACTH secretion induced by rat corticotropin-releasing factor (10(-10) mol/l). These natriuretic peptides showed equipotent effects on a molar basis. Moreover, ANP, BNP, or CNP at 10(-10) mol/l reduced significantly the pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA expression. In addition, the immunoreactive ANP, BNP, and CNP cells were localized in the anterior lobe, but not in the intermediate lobe of the fetal pituitary gland.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that the fetal pituitary gland may be both a source and a target for natriuretic peptides that might control ACTH synthesis and release via an endocrine and/or paracrine mechanism. The natriuretic peptides could participate, as well as glucocorticoids, in the control of the corticotropin-stimulating activity of the fetal rat in late gestation.
Chatelain
D
D
Laboratoire de Neuroendocrinologie du Développement, UPRES-EA 2701, Université de Lille 1, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
Lesage
J
J
Montel
V
V
Chatelain
A
A
Deloof
S
S
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone