Atrial natriuretic peptide is a physiological inhibitor of ACTH release: Evidence from immunoneutralization in vivo

Abstract

The brain is thought to exert a predominantly stimulatory action of ACTH secretion mediated mainly by corticotrophin-releasing factor-41 (CRF-41) and arginine vasopressin (AVP). Several data, however, also point to the existence of an ACTH-inhibiting factor. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), at concentrations found in hypophysial portal blood, inhibits ACTH release in vitro. The aim of the present studies was to use ANP immunoneutralization to determine whether ANP does in fact inhibit ACTH release in vivo. Intracerebroventricular infusion (1 μl/min for 30 min) of sheep anti-ANP serum into male rats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone had no significant effect on jugular venous plasma c..