Effect of Chronic Treatment with Deoxycorticosterone Acetate on Content of a Natriuretic Substance in Atria of Rats 1

Abstract

Abstract

Chronic (72 days) administration of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA), with or without saline as the sole drinking fluid, depleted atria of rats of their diuretic and natriuretic activities. Chronic ingestion of saline as the sole drinking fluid did not affect the diuretic, natriuretic, and kaliuretic activities of atria compared with those of rats receiving water to drink. Since systolic blood pressure of the DOCA-treated group did not differ significantly from that of the untreated control group, the decrease in potency of atrial extract from DOCA-treated rats most likely occurred in response to increases in extracellular and vascular volumes. The ability of DOCA to decrease diuretic and natriuretic activities of atria was dose dependent. The decreased activities of the atria of DOCA-treated rats could reflect an increased production and turnover of atrial natriuretic factor. Additional studies revealed an increased diuretic and natriuretic responsiveness of DOCA-treated recipients to atrial extract from untreated rats. Thus, the results of these studies suggest that chronic treatment with DOCA reduced the natriuretic and diuretic potencies of atrial extract and increased renal responsiveness to it.