9306997 Evans In the past ten years, many research groups have found that the mammalian heart and brain produce a family of peptide hormones which have a variety of effects on the cardiovascular system and the kidney. Their name refers to the fact that they stimulate the kidney to excrete salts and water. However, it is still unclear what role(s) these hormones play in humans. Previous research by Dr. Evans has shown that similar hormones are produced in the fish heart and brain and preliminary evidence suggests that they may be important in cardiovascular physiology and salt and water balance in the se aquatic vertebrates. He proposes to use the techniques of molecular biology to clone the gene(s) for these fish hormones and initiate a study of their sites of secretion sites of receptors for these hormones, and their role in fish physiology. Such studies will allow him to study the evolution of the form and function of these important hormones and will allow a more precise estimation of their role in cardiovascular physiology and salt and water balance in vertebrate animals, including man. ***
