Atrial natriuretic peptide prevents bronchoconstriction in vitro.

ABSTRACT

Under in vitro conditions atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) caused specific relation of bronchoconstriction induced by tosyl arginine methyl ester (TAME) on rat trachea. This supports the hypothesis that ANP is a relaxant of airway as well as vascular smooth muscle and since lung tissue contains ANP and ANP receptors, it is hypothesized that the lungs may be a target organ for ANP. It is concluded that ANP had definite bronchodilating properties on rat trachea mounted in vitro and could be a possible antagonist of TAME.