Toad atrial natriuretic peptide: cDNA cloning and functional analysis in isolated perfused kidneys

Endocrinology of osmoregulation and thermoregulation of Australian desert tetrapods: A historical perspective

Many Australian tetrapods inhabit desert environments characterised by low productivity, unpredictable rainfall, high temperatures and high incident solar radiation. Maintaining a homeostatic milieu intérieur by osmoregulation and thermoregulation are two physiological challenges faced by tetrapods in deserts, and the endocrine system plays an important role in regulating these processes. There is a considerable body of work examining the osmoregulatory role of antidiuretic hormones for Australian amphibians, reptiles and mammals, with particular contributions concerning their role and function for wild, free-living animals in arid environments. The osmoregulatory role of the natriuretic peptide system has received some attention, while the role of adrenal corticosteroids has been more thoroughly investigated for reptiles and marsupials. The endocrinology of thermoregulation has not received similar attention. Reptiles are best-studied, with research examining the influence of arginine vasotocin and melatonin on body temperature, the role of prostaglandins in heart rate hysteresis and the effect of melanocyte-stimulating hormone on skin reflectivity. Australian mammals have been under-utilised in studies examining the regulation, development and evolution of endothermy, and there is little information concerning the endocrinology of thermoregulation for desert species. There is a paucity of data concerning the endocrinology of osmoregulation and thermoregulation for Australian desert birds. Studies of Australian desert fauna have made substantial contributions to endocrinology, but there is considerable scope for further research. A co-ordinated approach to examine arid-habitat adaptations of the endocrine system in an environmental and evolutionary context would be of particular value.

Hagfish natriuretic peptide changes urine flow rates and vascular tensions in a hagfish

Since the first report of their natriuretic effect on mammalian kidneys the relative influences of natriuretic peptides (NPs) on volume and salt regulation in vertebrates have been debated. As marine osmoconformers, with plasma ionic concentrations similar to seawater, the actions of NPs on hagfishes may provide information on their primordial role. A synthetic natriuretic peptide derived from Eptatretus burgeri (hNP) increased urine production rates in E. cirrhatus at 3x10(-8) M. It also contracted afferent branchial and segmental arteries at low concentrations (1x10(-10) M) and relaxed them at 3x10(-8) M. Thus, hNP has a renal effect and at higher concentrations causes vascular relaxation suggesting a role in volume regulation and the prevention of cardiac overloading. Rat ANP (rANP) stimulated sodium efflux from both isolated, perfused gill pouches and the whole animal. rANP also reduced subcutaneous sinus haematocrit relative to that in the ventral aorta, which is consistent with a vasodilatory role.

Frog atrial natriuretic peptide and cGMP activate amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channels in urinary bladder cells of Japanese tree frog, Hyla japonica

In our previous study, it was suggested that ANP and cGMP may increase Na(+) absorption in the urinary bladder of the Japanese tree frog, Hyla japonica. Thus, Na(+) transport activated by ANP was investigated electrophysiologically by using a cell-attached patch-clamp technique in freshly isolated cells from the urinary bladder. A predominant channel expressed was a low conductance Na(+) channel in the epithelial cells. The channel exhibited conductance for inward currents of 4.9 +/- 0.2 pS, long open and closed times (c.a. 190 ms), and positive reversal potential. The channel activity was decreased under the pipette solution including 10(-6) M amiloride. These characteristics were similar to those of amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channels (ENaC). Addition of 10(-9) M ANP activated and significantly increased the ENaC activity from 0.58 +/- 0.09 to 1.47 +/- 0.34. On the other hand, mean amplitudes and conductance of single channel did not change significantly after the addition of ANP. Addition of 10(-5) M 8-Br-cGMP also activated the ENaC and significantly increased the channel activity from 0.56 +/- 0.10 to 2.00 +/- 0.33. The addition of ANP failed to activate the ENaC in the presence of 10(-6) M amiloride. These results suggested that ANP and cGMP activate Na(+) transport via ENaC in the epithelial cells of frog urinary bladder.

A perspective on the role of natriuretic peptides in amphibian osmoregulation

The natriuretic peptide (NP) system is a complex family of peptides and receptors that is primarily linked to the maintenance of osmotic and cardiovascular homeostasis. In amphibians, the potential role(s) of NPs is complicated by the range of osmoregulatory strategies found in amphibians, and the different tissues that participate in osmoregulation. Atrial NP, brain NP, and C-type NP have been isolated or cloned from a number of species, which has enabled physiological studies to be performed with homologous peptides. In addition, three types of NP receptors have been cloned and partially characterised. Natriuretic peptides are always potent vasodilators in amphibian blood vessels, and ANP has been shown to increase the permeability of the microcirculation. In the perfused kidney, ANP causes vasodilation, diuresis and natriuresis that are caused by an increased GFR rather than effects in the renal tubules. These data are supported by the presence of ANP receptors only on the glomeruli and renal blood vessels. In the bladder and skin, the function of NPs is enigmatic because physiological analysis of the effects of ANP on bladder and skin function has yielded conflicting data with no clear role for NPs being revealed. Overall, NPs often have no direct effect, but in some studies they have been shown to inhibit the function of AVT. In addition, there is evidence that ANP can inhibit salt retention in amphibians since it can inhibit the ability of adrenocorticotrophic hormone or angiotensin II to stimulate corticosteroid secretion. It is proposed that an important role for cardiac NPs could be in the control of hypervolaemia during periods of rapid rehydration, which occurs in terrestrial amphibians.

Hormonal regulation of ion and water transport in anuran amphibians

Amphibians occupy a wide variety of ecological habitats, and their adaptation is made possible through the specialization of the epithelia of their osmoregulatory organs, such as the skin, kidney, and urinary bladder, which control the hydromineral and acid-base balance of their internal medium. Amphibians can change drastically plasma Na+, Cl-, and urea levels and excretion rates in response to environmental stimuli such as acute desiccation and changes in external salinity. Several hormones and the autonomic nervous system act to control osmoregulation. Several ion channels including an epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), a urea transporter (UT), and water channels (AQPs) are found in epithelial tissues of their osmoregulatory organs. This mini review examines the currents status of our knowledge about hormone receptors for arginine vasotocin, angiotensin II and aldosterone, and membrane ion channels and transporters, such as ENaC, UT, and AQPs in amphibians.

Atrial natriuretic peptide and cGMP activate sodium transport through PKA-dependent pathway in the urinary bladder of the Japanese tree frog

The effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and cGMP on transepithelial ion transport were examined in the urinary bladder of the Japanese tree frog, Hyla japonica, using Ussing chamber voltage-clamp and whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. When the bladders were exposed to 4.4 x 10(-11) to 10(-6) M ANP or 10(-7) to 3 x 10(-4) M 8-Br-cGMP, both the transepithelial potential difference (PD) and the short-circuit current (Isc) were significantly increased in a concentration-response manner. The cGMP-dependent responses were inhibited in a Na+-free bath solution and in the presence of amiloride. The cGMP-dependent increases in Isc were significantly inhibited by specific PKA inhibitors (5 x 10(-7) M KT-5720 and >10(-5) M H-89), but not by a specific PKG inhibitor (5 x 10(-7) M KT-5823). ANP-dependent increases in Isc were also significantly inhibited by KT-5720. In the patch-clamp study, ANP and cGMP significantly increased in inward currents involving Na+ uptake. These results suggest that a cross-talk mechanism exists between cAMP and cGMP signaling pathways, which leads to Na+ transport in the frog urinary bladder. In addition, the cGMP-dependent increases in Isc were partially inhibited by 10(-4) M l-cis-diltiazem, a specific inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels. These results also suggest a relation between CNG channels and the cGMP-dependent increases in Na+ absorption of the frog urinary bladder.

General Function and Endocrine Control of the Posterior Lymph Hearts inBufo marinusandRana catesbeiana

The effects of hypervolemia and graded increases in arginine vasotocin (AVT), angiotensin II (ANGII), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on lymph heart pressure (P(lh)) and rate (f(lh)) were examined in Bufo marinus and Rana catesbeiana. The P(lh) and f(lh) for normally hydrated B. marinus at rest were 1.45+/-0.01 kPa and 52.8+/-0.38 beats min(-1). The P(lh) and f(lh) were significantly lower in R. catesbeiana, 1.05+/-0.01 kPa and 48.4+/-0.35 beats min(-1). Hypervolemia, induced by intravenous infusion of isotonic saline, stopped the lymph hearts at volumes of 0.48%+/-0.06% and 0.32%+/-0.04% body mass in B. marinus and R. catesbeiana, respectively, equivalent to an 8% increase of their respective plasma volumes. ANP had no effect on P(lh) or f(lh) at any of the dosages tested. ANGII decreased f(lh) in both species, approximating the physiological range of concentrations. AVT, at physiological concentrations, increased P(lh) 48% in B. marinus and 38% in R. catesbeiana without changing f(lh) in either species. At higher than physiological dosages, P(lh) and f(lh) in both species declined. The results suggest that AVT, normally released during hemorrhage and dehydration, would increase lymph heart output and help compensate for the hypovolemia. This is a contrary result to previous work using supraphysiologic doses of AVT.

Comparative aspects of natriuretic peptide physiology in non-mammalian vertebrates: a review

The natriuretic peptide system is a complex family of peptides and receptors that is primarily linked to the maintenance of osmotic and cardiovascular homeostasis. A natriuretic peptide system is present in each vertebrate class but there are varying degrees of complexity in the system. In agnathans and chondrichthyians, only one natriuretic peptide has been identified, while new data has revealed that multiple types of natriuretic peptides are present in bony fish. However, it seems in tetrapods that there has been a reduction in the number of natriuretic peptide genes, such that only three natriuretic peptides are present in mammals. The peptides act via a family of guanylyl cyclase receptors to generate the second messenger cGMP, which mediates a range of physiological effects at key targets such as the gills, kidney and the cardiovascular system. This review summarises the current knowledge of the natriuretic peptide system in non-mammalian vertebrates and discusses the physiological actions of the peptides.