[The course of atrial natriuretic peptide, aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone in normal pregnancy]

Atrial natriuretic peptide during human pregnancy and puerperium

In 1981 De Bold and colleagues demonstrated that when extracts of atrial tissue were given intravenously to rats a large diuresis and natriuresis occured promptly. The structure of the hormone concerned, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), was elucidated in 1983. Since then, ANP has received attention as a potentially important mediator in the homoeostasis of sodium and fluid volume.