There is a rapidly increasing basic and clinical interest in a better understanding of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) secretion in pulmonary hypertension. High levels of ANF correlate with pulmonary hypertension during hypoxia and exercise, and in patients with angina pectoris, heart disease, ventricular septal defects, and respiratory distress. ANF release is important in these situations, because ANF is a potent pulmonary vasorelaxant, and could reduce the right ventricular afterload and risks of right heart failure. The mechanisms of the ANF release, however, are poorly understood. Pilot studies suggest that a neural reflex of pulmonary arterial origin mediates the ANF response to pulmonary hypertension, and half the ANF response to hypoxia. An arterial chemoreceptor reflex may mediate the remaining ANF response to hypoxia. The proposed experiments will elucidate, for the first time, the role of these neural reflexes in the control of ANF release. All experiments will be performed on anesthetized, artificially ventilated, fully instrumented pigs. Blood samples will be continuously withdrawn to determine the plasma ANF concentrations.
Aim 1 of the research program is to test whether pulmonary arterial stretch receptors with vagal afferents form the afferent limb, and the sympathetic outflow the efferent limb of a novel ANF-releasing reflex. Pulmonary hypertension will be induced by intravenous air infusion and by hypoxia. The pulmonary artery, cervical vagi, stellate cardiac nerves, or adrenal medullae will be locally anesthetized to identify the critical neural structures involved. By measuring, in addition, the ANF response to autonomic nerve stimulation, the afferent and efferent limbs of this reflex can be unequivocally determined.
Aim 2 of the research program is to test whether carotid chemoreceptors stimulate the release of ANF, by challenging the carotid chemoreceptors with buffer or blood equilibrated at low P02. By reversibly blocking the autonomic nerves, the efferent limb of this new reflex will be elucidated. To show whether carotid chemoreceptors are physiologically involved in the ANF response, the carotid chemoreceptors will be exposed to normoxic blood during alveolar hypoxia. The results will add fundamental new information on the stimulus-secretion coupling in atrial myocytes. They will also provide a better understanding of potential ANF release mechanisms in patients with cardio-pulmonary disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL040553-02
Application #
3357783
Study Section
Cardiovascular and Renal Study Section (CVB)
Project Start
1991-08-17
Project End
1994-07-31
Budget Start
1992-08-01
Budget End
1993-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Virginia
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Charlottesville
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22904
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Baertschi, A J (1994) Antisense oligonucleotide strategies in physiology. Mol Cell Endocrinol 101:R15-24
Jiao, J H; Baertschi, A J (1993) Neural control of the endocrine rat heart. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 90:7799-803
Lew, R A; Baertschi, A J (1992) Endothelium-dependent ANF secretion in vitro. Am J Physiol 263:H1071-7
Baertschi, A J; Audigier, Y; Lledo, P M et al. (1992) Dialysis of lactotropes with antisense oligonucleotides assigns guanine nucleotide binding protein subtypes to their channel effectors. Mol Endocrinol 6:2257-65
Jiao, J H; Guyenet, P G; Baertschi, A J (1992) Lower brain stem controls cardiac ANF secretion. Am J Physiol 263:H198-207