Role of the liver in splanchnic extraction of atrial natriuretic factor in the rat.

Mesenteric, hepatic and splanchnic extraction of C-terminal and N-terminal atrial natriuretic factor was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma concentrations (mean +/- S.E.M.) of C-terminal atrial natriuretic factor were 55.0 +/- 6.1 fmol/ml, 31.2 +/- 4.0 fmol/ml and 23.5 +/- 3.3 fmol/ml (n = 12) in the abdominal aorta, the portal vein and the hepatic vein, respectively. N-terminal atrial natriuretic factor plasma levels in these vessels were 3031 +/- 756 fmol/ml, 2264 +/- 661 fmol/ml and 1618 +/- 496 fmol/ml (n = 6), respectively. Although the mesenteric extraction ratio was higher (p less than 0.05) for C-terminal atrial natriuretic factor (42% +/- 6%) than for N-terminal atrial natriuretic factor (28% +/- 4%), there were no significant differences in the hepatic extraction ratio (41% +/- 5% vs. 39% +/- 6%) and the splanchnic extraction ratio (56% +/- 5% vs. 50% +/- 7%). These data suggest a major role of the liver in the splanchnic extraction of C-terminal and of N-terminal atrial natriuretic factor in the rat.