Effects of plasma volume and osmolality on secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide and vasopressin in man

To clarify the role of blood volume and osmolality in the mediation of the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and to examine the relationship between plasma ANP and plasma AVP levels in man, the effects of hypertonic saline and hypertonic mannitol infusion, and of water load on plasma levels of ANP and AVP were studied. Infusion of 5% saline to 7 healthy men at a rate of 0.05 ml.min-1.kg-1 for 2 h resulted in a parallel rise in plasma sodium, osmolality, plasma ANP and plasma AVP, indicating that plasma hyperosmolality stimulates secretion of both ANP and AVP. Infusion of 20% mannitol to 6 healthy men at the same rate resulted in a parallel increase in plasma osmolality, plasma ANP and AVP, whereas plasma sodium decreased, indicating that plasma hyperosmolality stimulates secretion of both ANP and AVP. Water load (20 ml/kg) into 7 healthy men produced a prompt and parallel fall in plasma sodium, plasma osmolality and plasma AVP. In contrast, plasma ANP and plasma volume, calculated from the changes in hematocrit, increased concomitantly, which indicates that expanded plasma volume stimulates secretion of plasma ANP. These results suggest that secretion of ANP in man is regulated principally by plasma volume, which may be modulated by a change in plasma osmolality. AVP secretion, on the other hand, is controlled mainly by osmotic change and secondarily by plasma volume.