Renal autoregulation and pressure natriuresis during ANF-induced diuresis

We examined the autoregulation of renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the anesthetized dog during selective renal arterial infusion of two different synthetic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) analogues. Rat atriopeptin II (5 X 10(-8) M in renal arterial blood) caused increases in sodium and water excretion but left RBF and GFR unchanged. A similar response was seen with rat 8-33 atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) (10(-9) M), but a twofold higher dose of this peptide produced a transient increase in RBF and a sustained 16% increase in GFR. The normal pattern of RBF autoregulation in response to decreases in renal perfusion pressure was not altered by either peptide. GFR was also efficiently autoregulated during ANF infusion; however, there was a threefold increase in the slope of the relationship between sodium excretion and arterial pressure (pressure natriuresis) during 8-33 ANP infusion (control 1.11 +/- 0.39, 8-33 ANP 4.00 +/- 0.86 mu eq/mmHg, P less than 0.01). We conclude that ANF-induced diuresis can be sustained without detectable changes in either the autoregulation-responsive or autoregulation-independent components of renal vascular resistance. Factors other than GFR, which are highly responsive to renal perfusion pressure, are important in modulating the natriuresis caused by ANF. The augmentation of pressure natriuresis within the GFR autoregulatory range suggests an influence of ANF on the magnitude of arterial pressure-induced changes in tubular sodium reabsorption.