Atrial natriuretic peptide does not affect corticotropin-releasing factor-, arginine vasopressin- and angiotensin II-induced adrenocorticotropic hormone release in vivo or in vitro.

The effect of synthetic atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was examined on the in vivo and in vitro release of ACTH. Intravenous ANP (4 micrograms/kg body weight) administration did not affect the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF, 4 micrograms/kg body weight)-, arginine vasopressin (AVP, 2 micrograms/kg body weight)- and angiotensin II (A II, 4 micrograms/kg body weight)-induced ACTH release in unanesthetized freely moving rats. ANP did not inhibit the basal, CRF- and AVP-induced release of ACTH in pituitary cell cultures. ANP did not affect the CRF- and AVP-induced plasma corticosterone elevation, while it attenuated the AVP-induced corticosterone elevation. These results indicate that ANP does not affect the ACTH release at the pituitary level in vivo and in vitro.