Ouabain-like factor: is this the natriuretic hormone?

This review focuses on the most recent data published in the field of the s odium-potassium pump inhibitors regarding the hypothetical structure, the s ecretory stimuli and the pathophysiological implications for particular dis eases, such as hypertension, On the basis of the findings published so far, we reconsider and discuss the 'natriuretic hypothesis' for explaining the role of the endogenous sodium-potassium ATPase inhibitor. We propose the ou abain-like factor as a modulator of the renal sodium-potassium pump, that c an be considered as a new pharmacological target for hypertension therapy. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 9:165-171. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilki ns.