| Affiliation: | (1) Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6AE, UK;(2) William Harvey Research Institute, St. Bart!["rsquo"]("/content/e2eqkx2441hamfme/xlarge8217.gif") s and The Royal London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK;(3) Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University College London Rayne Institute, 5 University Street, London, WC1E 6JJ, UK |
| Abstract: | Abstract. Natriuretic peptides play important roles in theregulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. The endocrine actionsof atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriureticpeptide (BNP) complement the paracrine effects of C-typenatriuretic peptide (CNP) and urodilatin to regulate vascularsmooth muscle tone,  uid and electrolyte balance and cardiacmorphology. As a consequence, aberrant natriuretic peptideproduction and/or activity have been linked to a number ofcardiovascular disorders and interventions that selectivelymodulate these vasoactive peptides may be of therapeutic bene t.This review will outline the structure, expression and vascularactions of natriuretic peptides and their endogenous receptorsand highlight recent work that has revealed importantinteractions between the cyclic GMP producing particulate andsoluble guanylate cyclases, thereby linking the cardiovascularactions of natriuretic peptides and nitric oxide, and a role forCNP as an endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor(EDHF). |
