PROCESSING OF KALIURETIC PEPTIDE IN HUMAN PLASMA AND SERUM

High performance-gel permeation chromotography (HP-GPC) evaluation of human plasma and serum incubated at 37 degrees C for 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 , 4, 8, and 24 h after the addition of the human synthetic form of kal iuretic peptide revealed only a peak where the pure synthetic form of kaliuretic peptide elutes and that this peak decreased by 60% or great er in plasma-EDTA, plasma-heparin, and serum within 30 min. The metabo lic processing of kaliuretic peptide in plasma-EDTA, plasma-heparin, a nd serum, respectively, was complete in 2 h with only 4%, 1%, and 2% o f kaliuretic peptide's originally added concentration being still pres ent.