Interaction of ANP with endothelin on cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine function

To assess the interaction of endothelin (ET) with atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on cardiovascular and renal function, arginine vasopressin (AVP) release, and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, either a low or high dose of ET (4 or 12 pmol.kg-1.min-1) was administered with ANP (26 pmol.kg-1.min-1) for 45 min after the initial infusion of ANP alone in anesthetized dogs. In the other groups, either ANP or saline alone was administered for 90 min. ANP alone decreased blood pressure (BP), cardiac output (CO), plasma aldosterone, and plasma renin activity (PRA), increased urinary Na and K excretion (UNaV and UKV, respectively) and urine flow (UF), but did not affect plasma AVP. The low dose of ET had no effect on these ANP-induced changes. However, the high dose of ET curtailed the responses to ANP, increased BP and PRA, and decreased UNaV, UKV, and UF associated with decreased renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate. High ET also further potentiated the decrease in CO and the increase in total peripheral resistance induced by ANP and increased plasma AVP. These results indicate that a dose of ET one-half that of ANP (on the molar ratio) may have completely counteracted vascular, hormonal, and renal responses to ANP.