Atrial natriuretic peptide protects against cold ischemic injury in the isolated and in situ rat kidney.

A cute renal failure after transplantation remains a major cause of morbidity. Moreover, Initial graft dysfunction may have adverse effects on ultimate graft function, especially when cyclosporine Is used in the immunosuppression regimen (1 ,2). We have observed, as have others, that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) may ameliorate warm ischemic injury to the kidney (3,4). There is, however, little information concerning the protective effect of ANP against cold ischemic injury. To assess the potential usefulness of ANP as an additive to organ preservation solutions, the studies presented here were undertaken.