atrial natriuretic peptide
The definitions used in this glossary of terminology either have been provided by the authors of the articles, or have been extracted wholly or in part, or paraphrased from the following sources: The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, Charles B. Clayman, MD, Medical Editor, Random House, New York, 1989; Biotechnology from A to Z, 2d Edition, William Bains, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; A Dictionary of Genetics, 6th Edition, Robert C. King and William D. Stansfield, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 29th and 30th Editions, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2000, 2003; Genes VII, Benjamin Lewin, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2000; The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Volumes I and II, Stacey L. Blachford, Ed., Thomson Learning, New York, New York, 2002; The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts, 1997; Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd Edition, Bruce Alberts, et al., Garland Publishing, 1994; The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged Edition, 1966; Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1991.
DEFINITION:
- atrial natriuretic peptide
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A hormone involved in natriuresis and the regulation of renal and cardiovascular homeostasis. It is generally 28 amino acids in length but varies somewhat; it is synthesized as a prohormone in the granules of the myocytes of the atrium and is released into the circulation in response to atrial dilatation or increased intravascular fluid volume. Besides causing natriuresis, it also causes diuresis and renal vasodilation and reduces circulating concentrations of renin, aldosterone, and antidiuretic hormone, thereby normalizing circulating blood pressure and volume. Called also "atriopeptin" and "atrial natriuretic factor."
Used in 3 Article abstracts
Used in 3 Article abstracts