Cardiac natriuretic peptides and pancreatic islet blood flow in anesthetized rats

The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of cardiac natriuretic peptide s on splanchnic circulation, especially to the pancreatic islets. Pentobarb ital-anesthetized rats were infused intravenously (0.01 ml/min for 20 min] with saline, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP: 0.25 or 0.5 mug/kg BW/min), b rain natriuretic peptide (BNP; 0.5 mug/kg BW/min) or C-type natriuretic pep tide (CNP; 0.5 or 2.0 mug/kg BW/min), Splanchnic blood perfusion was then m easured with a microsphere technique. Mean arterial blood pressure was decr eased by ANP and BNP, but not by CNP. The animals given the highest dose of ANP became markedly hypoglycemic, whilst no such effects were seen in any of the other groups of animals. Total pancreatic blood flow was decreased b y the highest dose of CNP, whereas no change was seen after administration of the other peptides. Islet blood flow was increased by the highest dose o f ANP. Neither BNP nor CNP affected islet blood flow, None of the natriuret ic peptides influenced duodenal, colonic or arterial hepatic blood flow. It is concluded that cardiac natriuretic peptides exert only minor effects on splanchnic blood perfusion in anesthetized rats. However, islet blood perf usion may be influenced by ANP.