CARDIAC-HYPERTROPHY AND BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE IN EXPERIMENTAL-HYPERTENSION

Cardiac hypertrophy and brain natriuretic peptide in experimental hype rtension. Am. J. Physiol. 266 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 3 5): R451-R457, 1994. - The blood pressure was decreased after chronic treatment with enalapril, MK-954, and hydralazine in deoxycorticostero ne acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced malignant hypertension of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR); however, ventricular weight and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration were decreased after enalapri l and MK-954 but not after hydralazine. The BNP secretory rates from t he ventricle in enalapril- and MK-954-treated DOCA-salt SHR were decre ased to similar to 50% of those in untreated DOCA-salt SHR. The BNP se cretory rate from the ventricle was positively correlated with ventric ular weight in untreated and treated DOCA-salt SHR. In contrast, acute administration of captopril or MK-954 did not decrease the BNP secret ory rate from the heart. Results suggest that the decrease in plasma B NP after enalapril and MK-954 is attributed to a decline in the secret ion from the ventricle but not from the atrium. The reduction in ventr icular mass appeared to be related to this decline.