Atrial Natriuretic Factor (ANF) is Synthetized in the Rat Exocrine Pancreas

NAJENSON AC; BIANCHI M; VENTIMIGLIA M; RODRIGUEZ M; CASCO V; VATTA MS; BIANCIOTTI LG

BOSTON, MA

Congreso; EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 2015; 2015

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

In previous studies we showed that ANF regulates the exocrine pancreas function in the rat through NRP-C receptors (Am J Physiol Gastroinetest Liver Physiol., 285:G929, 2003; 292: G349, 2007: Gastroenterology, 149:1292, 2011). We also showed that the rat pancreas expresses the three natriuretic peptide receptors mRNAs (Am J Physiol Gastroinetest Liver Physiol., 293: G987, 2007). Although the heart is the major source of ANF, extracardiac sites like the gastrointestinal tract and salivary glands have been reported. In the present study we aimed to determine whether ANF is produced in the exocrine pancreas. Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200 g) fasted overnight were used. Following euthanasia, pancreas was harvested for immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR assays. Results showed that mRNA ANF was present in the rat pancreas and further the peptide was evidenced at the protein level. Immnunofluorescence assays revealed the presence of ANF in pancreatic acinar cells. Present findings support that ANF is produced in the exocrine pancreas and further suggest that the atrial peptide may act in a paracrine/autocrine manner on pancreatic cells once released.