Atrial natriuretic peptide secretion in rabbits with aortic regurgitation

We investigated whether or not the extent of secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was altered during the chronic course of aortic regurgitation (AR) in rabbits. AR was induced by aortic valve perforation in 20 rabbits. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was used as an index of the severity of heart failure. LVEDP and plasma immunoreactive (IR)-ANP were measured before and at 15 min, 1 week, and 4 weeks after induction of AR. In each period a correlation between LVEDP and plasma IR-ANP was observed, and the coefficients and covariances did not vary throughout the experiment. We conclude, therefore, that a chronic change in ANP secretion does not develop during the first 4 weeks after induction of AR in rabbits.