Response of Atrial Natriuretic Factor to Acute and Chronic Increases of Atrial Pressures in Experimental Heart Failure in Dogs Role of Changes in Heart Rate, Atrial Dimension, and Cardiac Tissue Concentration

Background. This study evaluated the role of changes in heart rate, atrial pressure, volume, and cardiac tissue atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) concentration in the modulation of plasma ANF concentration in a model of pacing-induced heart failure. Methods and Results. The effects of acute right ventricular pacing (250 beats/min), acute volume expansion (35 ml/mmn), and volume expansion after 1 week of right ventricular pacing on plasma ANF concentration were compared in eight dogs (group 1). As shown during right ventricular pacing previously, volume expansion produced significant increases in cardiac filling pressures and left atrial volume. Right ventricular pacing and volume expansion produced similar increments in plasma ANF concentration: from 32±12 to 168±153 pg/ml (p<0.05) and from 32±9 to 137±113 pg/ml (p<0.05), respectively. When pacing was initiated after volume expansion, plasma ANF concentration increased further to 462 ±295 pg/ml (p<0.S05) despite little change in filling pressures and left atrial volume. With repeated volume expansion after 1 week of pacing, there were no significant further increases in left atrial volume and plasma ANF concentrations (from 332±f121 to 407±+113 pg/ml) despite significant increases in filling pressures. Atrial and ventricular tissue samples were also obtained from 2