健心颗粒对慢性心力衰竭大鼠一氧化氮合酶的影响

目的 探讨健心颗粒对大鼠慢性心衰(CHF)一氧化氮合酶(NOS)的影响.方法 以32周老龄自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)的CHF模型作为研究对象,观察应用健心颗粒4周后SHR左室心肌NOS1、NOS2、NOS3蛋白表达,检测血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)、心钠素(ANP)、脑钠素(BNP)水平.结果 健心颗粒可以提高SHR的NOS1、NOS3表达,降低SHR的NOS2表达;降低血浆的AngⅡ、ANP、BNP水平.结论 健心颗粒可以通过NOS系统,调节NOS1、NOS2、NOS3三者之间的动态平衡,达到改善心功能.     

健心颗粒干预慢性心力衰竭细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的探讨健心颗粒干预慢性心力衰竭(CHF)细胞凋亡的实验研究。方法以32周老龄自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)的CHF模型作为研究对象,随机分为5组,即空白对照组、低剂量健心颗粒组、中剂量健心颗粒组、高剂量健心颗粒组与卡托普利(开搏通)组。观察应用健心颗粒4周后心肌的Fas、Bax、Bcl-2和Caspase-3蛋白表达;检测血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)、心钠素(ANP)、脑钠素(BNP)水平。结果健心颗粒各剂量组均可以降低Fas、Bax和Caspase-3的蛋白表达,其中低剂量健心颗粒组各蛋白分别为17.39%±1.12%、10.27%±1.27%和16.24%±3.26%;可提高Bcl-2(低剂量健心颗粒组为20.76%±6.38%)蛋白表达;降低血浆的AngⅡ、ANP、BNP水平,低剂量健心颗粒组各指标分别为101.13pg/mL±19.56pg/mL、375.89pg/mL±72.17pg/mL、254.03pg/mL±27.58pg/mL。结论健心颗粒可以通过复杂机制干预心肌细胞凋亡,改善心功能。     

高血压大鼠心脏肥厚过程中心肌细胞凋亡心肌纤维化动态观察

目的 探讨SHR心脏肥厚进展阶段心肌细胞凋亡、心肌纤维化及左室重构特点及其相互关系。方法 分别采用末端脱氧核糖核苷酸转移酶介导dUTP缺口末端标记（TUNEL）、放射免疫测定及病理检查方法对16周、24周龄、32周龄SHR心肌细胞凋亡指数（APOI）、心肌胶原容积分数（VF）和心肌血管周围胶原面积（PVCA）、血浆和组织血管紧张素Ⅱ检测,并以同龄Wister大鼠作对照。结果 与同龄正常血压Wistar大鼠比较,SHR各周龄组收缩压明显增高、心脏肥厚指标心脏重量（HW）、左室重量（LVW）、左室重量指数（LVW/BW) 显著增加;各周龄组SHR心肌细胞APOI显著增加,各周龄组间无显著性差异;各周龄组SHR大鼠血浆、心肌组织Ang Ⅱ明显增高;24、32周龄SHR的CVF和PVCA显著增加;SHR心肌组织Ang Ⅱ分别与APOI、CVF呈显著正相关,APOI与CVF呈显著正相关。结论 心肌细胞凋亡与心肌纤维化参与SHR代偿性心脏肥厚阶段心脏重构病理过程,组织Ang Ⅱ是导致SHR代偿性心脏肥厚阶段心肌细胞凋亡与心肌纤维化的重要机制之一。     

缬沙坦与胰激肽原酶合用逆转自发性高血压大鼠左室重构的机制

目的探讨缬沙坦（Val）和胰激肽原酶（PK）联合应用对自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）左心室重构的作用及对血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）水平、血清一氧化氮（NO）含量的影响。方法选用雄性15周龄的SHR24只、WKY大鼠8只，分为4组：SHR组、PK组、Val＋PK组、WKY组，实验期4w。放免法测定AngⅡ、化学法检测血浆NO水平、常规测量各组血收缩压（SBP）、左心室重量指数（LVMI）、心肌胶原体积比例（CVF）和心肌血管周围胶原与管腔面积的比例（PVCA）。结果SHR组的SBP、LVMI、CVF、PVCA、AngⅡ水平明显增高而血清NO含量明显下降，较WKY组有显著差异（P〈0．01）；治疗组（PK组、Val＋PK组）SBP、LVMI、CVF及PVCA均显著下降（P〈0．01），血清NO水平明显升高（P〈0．01），Val＋PK组血浆AngⅡ水平显著上升（P〈0．01），而心肌AngⅡ水平明显下降P〈0．01），PK组心肌局部和血浆AngⅡ变化不明显。结论PK能有效的改善高血压左室重构，与Val合用效果更佳。     

厄贝沙坦和咪达普利抑制自发性高血压大鼠左心室重塑的研究

目的:探讨咪达普利、厄贝沙坦对自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)左心室重塑的抑制作用,并比较二者的作用效果。方法:选用13周龄的SHR30只、Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)大鼠10只,随机分为4组:SHR组,厄贝沙坦组,咪达普利组,WKY组。实验期15周。观察血压、左室重量/体重(LVW/BW)、左室厚度/BW,心肌的形态学(光镜、电镜),血浆、心肌血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)及心钠素(ANF)浓度。结果:与SHR组相比,咪达普利组、厄贝沙坦组血压控制良好,LVW/BW、左室厚度/BW均比SHR组小(均P<0.05),血浆、心肌的ANF水平均比SHR组低(均P<0.001),咪达普利组血浆AngⅡ水平低于SHR组,但差异无统计学意义,心肌AngⅡ水平低于SHR组(P<0.05),厄贝沙坦组血浆、心肌AngⅡ水平均明显高于SHR组(均P<0.001),两组心肌结构改变尤其是纤维化均比SHR组减轻,咪达普利组减轻更明显。结论:咪达普利、厄贝沙坦不仅能良好地控制血压,而且可以抑制SHR左心室重塑;在防止心肌和肠系膜动脉结构改变尤其是纤维化方面,咪达普利作用可能优于厄贝沙坦。     

血浆脑钠肽、一氧化氮及血管紧张素Ⅱ在原发性高血压伴左室肥厚中的作用

目的探讨血浆脑钠肽(BNP)、一氧化氮(NO)及血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)在原发性高血压(EH)患者中的变化,以及与左室肥厚(LVH)的相关性。方法分别选取EH伴LVH患者、EH不伴LVH患者及对照者各60例,检测BNP、NO及AngⅡ水平及左室重量(LVM),进行组间比较及相关分析。结果 EH伴LVH组NO水平低于EH不伴LVH组、正常对照组,EH不伴LVH组NO水平低于正常对照组(P<0.05);BNP、AngⅡ、室间隔厚度(IVST)、左室后壁厚度(LVPWT)、LVM水平的变化与之相反(P<0.05);血压与BNP、AngⅡ、LVM呈正相关,与NO呈负相关;LVM与BNP、AngⅡ呈正相关,LVM、BNP、AngⅡ与NO呈负相关(P<0.05)。结论 BNP、NO、AngⅡ参与了EH及LVH形成的病理生理过程。     

培哚普利和卡维地洛对自发性高血压大鼠Ang Ⅱ和B型利钠肽的影响

目的转换酶抑制剂(ACEI)培哚普利和β-阻滞剂(BB)卡维地洛逆转左室肥大(LVH),本文旨在探讨药物干预下自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)血管紧张素(Ang Ⅱ)和B型利钠肽(BNP)水平改变的意义.方法 15周龄雄性SHR尾动脉测压,随机分三组未治疗组(n=7)、培哚普利组(n=6)、卡维地洛组(n=7).药物溶于蒸馏水以灌胃法给予,培哚普利8 mg/kg*-1、卡维地洛4 mg/kg*-1,疗程6周,未治疗组以等量蒸馏水灌胃.15周龄雄性WKY大鼠为正常血压对照组(n=8).实验结束断头处死,取血、分离左心室.采用高效液相色谱-放射免疫(HPLC-RIA)分析技术和RIA法测定各组大鼠血浆和心肌组织Ang Ⅱ和BNP(B型利钠肽)浓度.结果 (1)经6周治疗后SHR血压和左心室/体重比值较未治疗组有显著下降(P<0.05);(2)培哚普利能显著降低心肌组织Ang Ⅱ水平(P<0.05),但能明显升高血浆Ang Ⅱ水平(P<0.05);(3)卡维地洛显著降低血浆和心肌组织Ang Ⅱ水平(P<0.05);(4)无论培哚普利、卡维地洛都能使血浆和心肌组织的BNP水平降低(P<0.05).结论培哚普利、卡维地洛逆转LVH与其降低心肌组织Ang Ⅱ相一致,BNP可看作是Ang Ⅱ的天然拮抗物,随LVH逆转而下降,BNP下降反映治疗有效.     

稳心颗粒对心力衰竭患者心功能和脑钠肽水平的影响

目的观察稳心颗粒对充血性心力衰竭（CHF）患者心功能和血浆脑钠肽（BNP）水平的影响。方法CHF心功能Ⅱ-Ⅳ级（NYHA）患者128例,随机分为治疗组68例和对照组60例,对照组给予常规治疗：包括：洋地黄、利尿剂、血管扩张剂等。治疗组在常规给药的基础上加服稳心颗粒9g／次,3次／d,3个月为1个疗程。检测血浆BNP浓度和心脏超声测定左心室射血分数（LVEF）及左室收缩末期容量（LVESV）。结果治疗组患者治疗前后血浆BNP、左室射血分数、左室收缩末期容量间差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;对照组治疗前后血浆BNP间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,左室射血分数、左室收缩末期容量间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。两组患者治疗后血浆BNP、左室射血分数、左室收缩末期容量间差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论稳心颗粒治疗CHF疗效肯定,可作为CHF的长期治疗药物之一。     

血浆一氧化氮和血管紧张素Ⅱ在原发性高血压及左室肥厚中的作用

目的探讨血浆一氧化氮（NO）和血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）在原发性高血压（EH）患者中的变化,以及与左室肥厚（LVH）的相关性。方法分别选取EH伴LVH患者、EH不伴LVH患者及正常人各30例,检测血浆NO、AngⅡ水平及左室重量（LVM）,进行组间比较及相关分析。结果（1）EH伴LVH组血NO水平低于EH不伴LVH组、正常对照组俨〈0．01）,EH不伴LVH组NO水平低于正常对照组（P〈0．01）;（2）三组之间血AngⅡ水平与室间隔舒张末期厚度（IVS）、左室后壁舒张末期厚度（LVPW）、LVM呈正相关（P〈0．01或0．05）;（3）血压、LVM与NO呈负相关、与AngⅡ、LVM呈正相关（P〈0．01或0．05）。结论研究结果提示：血浆NO、AngⅡ参与了EH及LVH形成的病理生理过程。     

利心Ⅰ号对充血性心力衰竭大鼠模型血浆AngⅡ及TNF-α的影响

目的探讨利心Ⅰ号对充血性心力衰竭（CHF）大鼠模型血浆肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）及血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）的影响。方法用腹腔注射阿霉素法复制Wistar大鼠CHF模型，观察利心Ⅰ号对CHF大鼠模型血浆TNF-α及AngⅡ的影响。结果模型组大鼠血浆TNF-α值明显高于正常对照组；各治疗组血浆TNF-α含量与模型组比较均明显降低，其中，中药高剂量组与西药对照组及中药低剂量组比较有统计学意义（P〈0，01）；模型组大鼠血浆AngⅡ含量明显高于正常对照组，各治疗组血浆AngⅡ与模型组比较均明显降低，且中药高剂量组优于中药对照组及中药低剂量组。结论利心Ⅰ号能够降低实验性CHF大鼠血浆TNF-α及AngⅡ水平，以中药高剂量组效果最佳。     

Effects of human atrial natriuretic peptide on cardiac function and hemodynamics in patients with high plasma BNP levels

Both atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) bind preferentially to the natriuretic peptide A receptor. Therefore, we hypothesized that the positive inotropic and lusitropic effects of ANP might be blunted in patients with moderate congestive heart failure and high BNP levels. Micromanometers and conductance catheters were used to obtain relatively load-insensitive left ventricular pressure-volume analysis in order to compare the myocardial and load-altering actions of ANP in 20 patients with low and high plasma BNP levels. In the low-BNP group (plasma BNP levels <230 pg/ml), ANP infusion significantly decreased end-systolic pressure and end-diastolic pressure and volume, increased end-systolic elastance, and shortened left ventricular relaxation. By contrast, in the high-BNP group (plasma BNP levels >230 pg/ml), the effect of ANP infusion on LV contractility was blunted but its beneficial effects on LV diastolic function and LV-arterial coupling remained. Thus, ANP infusion may improve LV diastolic function even in patients with moderate heart failure and high plasma BNP levels.     

Associations between plasma natriuretic peptides and echocardiographic abnormalities in geriatric outpatients

Identification of patients with cardiac dysfunction can be difficult in the geriatric population. Recently, different subtypes of the natriuretic peptide family have been advocated as biomarker for the diagnosis of heart failure in the emergency department setting. In this study we looked at associations between natriuretic peptide plasma levels and echocardiographic abnormalities in geriatric outpatients. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 209 community-dwelling subjects, visiting the geriatric outpatient clinic of our university hospital. Subjects were 65 years or older and had no markedly impaired cognitive function. Mean atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) plasma levels were respectively 11.0 and 10.8pmol/l. BNP, but not ANP correlated with left ventricular dysfunction and left ventricular mass, whereas both peptides correlated with left atrial dimension and valvular lesions. A natriuretic peptide level in the highest tertile was associated with a higher risk of any echocardiographic abnormality, with odds ratios for BNP of 7.15 (range 2.15-23.71), and for ANP of 3.07 (range 1.15-8.16). In conclusion, elevated BNP and ANP plasma levels are closely related to cardiac abnormalities in elderly subjects. The association between cardiac abnormalities and natriuretic peptides is stronger for BNP than for ANP, hence for detection of cardiac abnormalities measurement of BNP plasma values are preferred over ANP plasma values.     

Effect of spironolactone on plasma brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular remodeling in patients with congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the effects of spironolactone on neurohumoral factors and left ventricular remodeling in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND: Aldosterone (ALD) promotes collagen synthesis and structural remodeling of the heart. Spironolactone, an ALD receptor antagonist, is reported to reduce mortality in patients with CHF, but its influence on left ventricular remodeling has not been clarified. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with mild-to-moderate nonischemic CHF were randomly divided into two groups that received treatment with spironolactone (n = 20) or placebo (n = 17). We measured left ventricular volume and mass before treatment and after four months of treatment. We also measured the plasma levels of neurohumoral factors, such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), as well as plasma procollagen type III aminoterminal peptide (PIIINP), a marker of myocardial fibrosis. RESULTS: Left ventricular volume and mass were significantly decreased and ejection fraction was significantly increased in the spironolactone group, while there were no changes in the placebo group. Plasma levels of ANP, BNP and PIIINP were significantly decreased after spironolactone treatment, but were unchanged in the placebo group. There was a significant positive correlation between the changes of PIIINP and changes of the left ventricular volume index (r = 0.45, p = 0.045) as well as the left ventricular mass index (r = 0.65, p = 0.0019) with spironolactone treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that four months of treatment with spironolactone improved the left ventricular volume and mass, as well as decreased plasma level of BNP, a biochemical marker of prognosis and/or ventricular hypertrophy, suggesting that endogenous aldosterone has an important role in the process of left ventricular remodeling in nonischemic patients with CHF.     

Cardiac gene expression of natriuretic substances is altered in streptozotocin-induced diabetes during angiotensin II-induced pressure overload

OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into the cardiac adaptive mechanisms in diabetes, we studied whether angiotensin II (Ang II) alters expression of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and adrenomedullin (AM) genes in the left ventricle of the diabetic rat heart. METHODS: Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg body weight intravenously). During the last 24 h of 2.5 or 7 weeks of treatment of male Wistar rats with STZ or vehicle, Ang II (33 microg/kg per h) was administered via osmotic minipumps. RESULTS: Diabetes was associated with an increased left ventricular weight to body weight (LV/BW) ratio, an index of left ventricular hypertrophy, at week 7 but not at week 2.5, and with increased ANP mRNA content at 2.5 weeks, but not with altered expression of the AM and BNP genes. Mean arterial pressure and LV/BW ratio were increased by Ang II in all groups except in the 7-week diabetic group. Levels of ANP mRNA were increased fourfold (P < 0.001) and threefold (P < 0.05) by Ang II at 2.5 and 7 weeks in control animals, respectively, and 11-fold (P < 0.001) and sevenfold (P < 0.001) at 2.5 and 7 weeks in diabetic animals, respectively. Ang II increased ventricular concentrations of BNP mRNA in control and diabetic animals at 2.5 weeks (1.3-fold, P < 0.001; and 1.6-fold, P < 0.001) and at 7 weeks (1.3-fold, P < 0.05; and 1.8-fold, P < 0.001), respectively. Left ventricular levels of adrenomedullin mRNA were increased by treatment with Ang II for 24 h in 2.5-week diabetic animals. CONCLUSION: Ang II markedly increased the levels of natriuretic peptide mRNAs in the left ventricle of normal and diabetic rat hearts, whereas it increased adrenomedullin mRNA levels only in 2.5-week diabetic rats and failed to cause hypertension in 7-week diabetic rats. Left ventricular levels of ANP and BNP mRNA were increased by Ang II in diabetic animals more than the additive effects of diabetes and Ang II alone, showing that Ang II induced an amplified response with respect to cardiac concentrations of ANP and BNP in diabetes.     

Role of natriuretic peptide receptor guanylyl cyclase-A in myocardial infarction evaluated using genetically engineered mice

Although plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are elevated early after myocardial infarction (MI), the significance is not fully understood. We therefore investigated the function of natriuretic peptides after induction of MI in knockout (KO) mice lacking the natriuretic peptide receptor guanylyl cyclase-A, the receptor for ANP and BNP. KO and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to left coronary artery ligation and then followed up for 4 weeks. Irrespective of genotype, almost all deaths occurred within 1 week after induction of MI. KO mice showed significantly higher mortality because of a higher incidence of acute heart failure, which was associated with diminished water and sodium excretion and with higher cardiac levels of mRNAs encoding ANP, BNP, transforming growth factor-beta1, and type I collagen. By 4 weeks after infarction, left ventricular remodeling, including myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, and impairment of left ventricular systolic function were significantly more severe in KO than WT mice. Notably, the enhanced myocardial fibrosis seen in KO mice was virtually absent in infarcted double-KO mice, lacking guanylyl cyclase-A and angiotensin II type 1a receptors, although there was no improvement in survival and no attenuation of cardiac hypertrophy. Thus, guanylyl cyclase-A activation by endogenous cardiac natriuretic peptides protects against acute heart failure and attenuates chronic cardiac remodeling after MI. These beneficial effects are mediated partly through inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), although RAS-independent protective actions of guanylyl cyclase-A are also suggested.     

Plasma cardiac natriuretic peptide as a biological marker of recurrence of atrial fibrillation in elderly people

We designed this study to evaluate the relationship between plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after direct current cardioversion (DC) and the differences with aging. Fifty patients with mild congestive heart failure (CHF) undergoing elective DC of AF were included in this study (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II: n = 42, III = 8). Patients who failed to show restoration of sinus rhythm or those with mitral valve stenosis were excluded. Before successful DC, we measured plasma levels of ANP and BNP and evaluated left atrial dimension (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd), and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) by echocardiography. Twenty-one patients had recurrence of AF within 2 months after DC (average 9.05 days). We followed up the other 29 patients for 580.5 days. By Cox stepwise multivariate analysis, history of AF (p = 0.007), low plasma levels of ANP (p = 0.003), and high plasma levels of BNP (p = 0.0003) were found to be independent predictors of recurrent AF. High plasma BNP levels indicating ventricular dysfunction and low plasma ANP levels may be due to atrial histological change such as fibrosis. In these patients, plasma ratios of ANP and BNP (ANP/BNP) less than 0.43 were predictive factors for AF recurrence (sensitivity 70%, specificity 62%), especially in patients who were older than 70 years (sensitivity 100%, specificity 80%). Relatively low plasma ANP level compared to BNP is an independent risk factor of AF recurrence in patients with CHF, especially in elderly patients, suggesting that plasma cardiac natriuretic peptides are important biochemical markers of AF recurrence in elderly patients with CHF.     

Neurohumoral profiles in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: differences to hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or hypertensive heart disease (HHD) have increased concentrations of various neurohumoral factors. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the differences in the neurohumoral profiles of HCM and HHD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), angiotensin II and endothelin-1 were measured in 40 patients with HCM, 35 with HHD, and 15 controls. Additionally, the concentrations of these neurohumoral factors in the coronary sinus and aortic root were measured in 12 HCM patients and 10 controls. Plasma concentrations of norepinephrine, ANP and BNP were significantly higher in HCM than HHD and controls. In HCM, there was no significant correlation between the left ventricular mass index and any neurohumoral factor. The plasma BNP concentration significantly correlated with left intraventricular pressure gradient in HCM. There were significant differences in the plasma concentrations of ANP and BNP between HCM with and without left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Transcardiac production of BNP was significantly higher in patients with obstructive HCM than in those with non-obstructive HCM. CONCLUSIONS: The significant neurohumoral differences between HCM and HHD were the plasma concentrations of norepinephrine, ANP and BNP. In HCM patients, the plasma BNP concentration may reflect the intraventricular pressure gradient and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction whereas the plasma ANP concentration reflects only the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.     

Current biochemistry, molecular biology, and clinical relevance of natriuretic peptides

The mammalian natriuretic peptide family consists of atrial (ANP), brain [B-type; BNP] and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and three receptors, natriuretic receptors-A (NPR-A), -B (NPR-B) and -C (NPR-C). Both ANP and BNP are abundantly expressed in the heart and are secreted mainly from the atria and ventricles, respectively. By contrast, CNP is mainly expressed in the central nervous system, bone and vasculature. Plasma concentrations of both ANP and BNP are elevated in patients with cardiovascular disease, though the magnitude of the increase in BNP is usually greater than the increase in ANP. This makes BNP is a clinically useful diagnostic marker for several pathophysiological conditions, including heart failure, ventricular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension, among others. Recent studies have shown that in addition to BNP-32, proBNP-108 also circulates in human plasma and that levels of both forms are increased in heart failure. Furthermore, proBNP-108 is O-glycosylated and circulates at higher levels in patients with severe heart failure. In this review we discuss recent progress in our understanding of the biochemistry, molecular biology and clinical relevance of the natriuretic peptide system.     

Augmentation of the cardiac natriuretic peptides by beta-receptor antagonism: evidence from a population-based study

Objectives. The present retrospective analysis of data derived from a population-based study examined the relationship between intake of beta-receptor antagonists and plasma concentrations of the cardiac natriuretic peptides and their second messenger.

Background. Beta-receptor antagonists are widely used for treatment of cardiovascular disease. In addition to direct effects on heart rate and cardiac contractility, recent evidence suggests that beta-receptor antagonists may also modulate the cross talk between the sympathetic nervous system and the cardiac natriuretic peptide system.

Methods. Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and their second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were assessed in addition to anthropometric, hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters in a population-based sample (n = 672), of which 80 subjects used beta-receptor antagonists.

Results. Compared to subjects without medication, subjects receiving beta-receptor antagonists were characterized by substantially elevated ANP, BNP and cGMP plasma concentrations (plus 32%, 89% and 18%, respectively, p < 0.01 each). Analysis of subgroups revealed that this effect was highly consistent and present even in the absence of hypertension, left atrial enlargement, left ventricular hypertrophy or left ventricular dysfunction. The most prominent increase was observed in a subgroup with increased left ventricular mass index. By multivariate analysis, a statistically significant and independent association between beta-receptor antagonism and ANP, BNP and cGMP concentrations was confirmed. Such an association could not be demonstrated for other antihypertensive agents such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or diuretics.

Conclusions. Beta-receptor antagonists appear to augment plasma ANP, BNP and cGMP concentrations. The current observation suggests an important contribution of the cardiac natriuretic peptide system to the therapeutic mechanism of beta-receptor antagonists.     

Association of atrial natriuretic peptide and type a natriuretic peptide receptor gene polymorphisms with left ventricular mass in human essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of our study was to investigate the relationships between atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and type A natriuretic peptide receptor (NPRA) gene polymorphisms and left ventricular structure in human essential hypertension. BACKGROUND: Experimental evidence supports a key role for natriuretic peptides in the modulation of cardiac mass. This relationship has not yet been described in human disease. METHODS: A total of 203 hypertensive patients were studied by mono-bidimensional echocardiography. Three markers of the ANP gene (-C664G, G1837A, and T2238C polymorphisms) and a microsatellite marker of both NPRA and BNP genes were characterized. RESULTS: Patients carrying the ANP gene promoter allelic variant had increased left ventricular mass index (117.4 +/- 1.7 g vs. 95.7 +/- 1.7 g, p = 0.005), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (1.14 +/- 0.07 cm vs. 0.96 +/- 0.01 cm, p < 0.0001), left ventricular septal thickness (1.12 +/- 0.10 cm vs. 1.04 +/- 0.01 cm, p = 0.01), and relative wall thickening (47.5 +/- 4.1% vs. 39.4 +/- 5.3%, p = 0.001) as compared with the wild-type genotype. These associations were independent from anthropometric factors and major clinical features and were confirmed in a large subgroup of never-treated hypertensive patients (n = 148). Carrier status of the ANP gene promoter allelic variant was associated with significantly lower plasma proANP levels: 1,395 +/- 104 fmol/ml versus 3,110 +/- 141 fmol/ml in hypertensive patients carrying the wild-type genotype (p < 0.05). A significant association for NPRA gene variants with left ventricular mass index and left ventricular septal thickness was found. The analysis of BNP did not reveal any effect on cardiac phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the ANP/NPRA system significantly contributes to ventricular remodeling in human essential hypertension.