DIGESTIVE PROCESS AND REGULATION OF RENAL EXCRETORY FUNCTION - PEPSANURIN AND PROKININ INHIBITORS OF DIURESIS MEDIATED BY ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-PEPTIDE

In order to clarify the blunting effect of peptides released by pepsin from blood plasma on ANP diuretic action, two prokinins designated PU -18 and PU-16 were tested. Both of them were able to inhibit in nanomo lar doses the diuretic-saluretic action of 0.5 ug i.v. bolus of ANP gi ven to anesthetized rats either by intravenous route or introduced in the duodenal lumen. PU-16 in doses of 0.5 and 1 ug were able to reduce in 72 and 96.5% respectively the natriuresis induced by 0.5 ug intrav enous bolus of ANP. The data support the hypothesis that prokinins lib erated in the digestive tract, could be physiological factors involved in hydrosaline homeostasis, moderating the ANP mediated increase of w ater, Na and K excretion during digestion.