Atriopeptin: A Cardiac Hormone Intimately Involved in Fluid, Electrolyte, and Blood-Pressure Homeostasis

This review focuses on the recent discovery of atriopeptin, a peptide hormone that is intimately involved in the regulation of renal and cardiovascular homeostasis. This peptide, which is stored in the atrial cardiocyte, is capable of exerting potent, selective, and transient effects on fluid and electrolyte balance and on blood pressure. Hundreds of publications have appeared since the announcement of the discovery of this structure about two years ago. The objective of this interpretive review is to provide a framework for understanding current and future findings about atriopeptin and their implications. The elucidation of the intricacies of this newly discovered . . .