Effects of Acute Water Load, Hypertonic Saline Infusion, and Furosemide Administration on Atrial-Natriuretic-Peptide and Vasopressin Release in Humans

A new specific RIA for alpha-human atrial natriuretic hormone (alpha hANP) was used to determine whether changes in plasma volume elicited by acute water loading, hypertonic saline infusion, and furosemide administration caused changes in ANP release and resultant changes in renal and cardiovascular function in normal subjects. In addition, changes in plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP), PRA, and aldosterone concentrations were studied simultaneously. Mean plasma alpha hANP and AVP levels were 51.3 +/- 16.0 (+/- SE) and 3.1 +/- 0.6 pg/ml, respectively, in the basal state. Plasma alpha hANP rose to 77.8 +/- 27.6 in response to a 4.5% increase in plasma volume induced by water loading, increased further to 134.1 +/- 28.9 in response to a 23% volume increase induced by hypertonic saline, and fell to 70.2 +/- 15.8 pg/ml in response to a decrease in plasma volume after furosemide treatment (P less than 0.01-0.05). On the other hand, plasma AVP fell to 1.8 +/- 0.1 pg/ml after the water load, rose to 4.1 +/- 0.6 after hypertonic saline, and rose further to 5.8 +/- 0.8 pg/ml after furosemide (P less than 0.01-0.05). Water and hypertonic saline loading decreased PRA, but plasma aldosterone concentrations did not change; subsequent furosemide administration increased both (P less than 0.01-0.05). Arterial pressure and heart rate did not change significantly. Increases in urinary Na excretion and osmolar clearances were associated with a rise in plasma alpha hANP after water loading and hypertonic saline infusion (P less than 0.01-0.05), but changes in urine flow were mainly associated with alterations in AVP release. associated with alterations in AVP release.