IUPHAR announcement

Tips tine, results of immunohistochemical studies and the presence of ANP immunoreactivity in the culture medium of a human kidney cell linez6 indicate that urodilatin may be seaeted into the hunen of distal tubules and collecting ducts. a-Al%’ is rapidly degraded in microdissected nephxxx&‘. This ANP-degrading activity cleaves in a manner identical to protease EC 3.4.24.11 and is located predominantly in the huninal membranes of proximal tubules. These data support the hypothesis that, in viva, a-ANF mainly acts on renal vessels’5, jwctaglomerular apparat& and proximal tubules’ , while luminally secreted urodilatin may exhibit its natural biological activity by binding to ANP-specific receptors in renal collecting ducts. This part of the nephron is known to be involved in ANP-mediated regulation of Na+ and water reabsorption’s_ Therefore it is tempting to speculate that urodilatin, rather than blood-derived a-ANP could be of major importance in the regulation of natriuresis and diwsis under normal physiological conditions. Experiments measuring plasma ANP levels and natriuresis induced by volume expansion after atrial appendectomy support our model that circulating a-ANP is of minor importance in the regulation of fluid homeostasis3’. Infusions of a-ANP or urodilatin in normal dogs and dogs with congestive heart faihzre demonstrate similar hemodynamic effects, but the renal activity of urodilatin is more potenp. The biological effects of urodtiatin support the idea that this new peptide may be a beneficial tool in the treatment of congestive heart failure and other diseases.

s. M. FELLRR,

M. GAGELMANN

AND W. G. FORSSMANN I~tihlt fiir Anatomic und Zellbiologie, Uniuemitcit Heidelberg, INF 307,690O Heidelberg, FRG.

References 1 DeBold, A. I., Borenstein, H. B.. Veress. A. T. and S&me&erg. H..(1981j Life SC; 28. m 2 Gardner, D. G., La Pointe, M. C. and Wu, J. (1988) in Frontiers in Neuroendotilotogy (v01: 10) (Martini, L. and Ganong, W. F.. eds), pp. 45-61, Raven press 3 Larsen.T.

H., Araiamaa. 0.. I%vinen. M.

and Saetersdal, T. (1987) Acta Histochem. Cytochem. 20,471-476 4 Asai,J. eta!. (1987) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 148,1465-1470 5 Morel, G. et al. (1988) Endocrinology 123, 149-158 6 Meyer, M. et al. Verb. Anat. Ges. (in

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7 Sudoh, T., Kangawa, K., Minamino, N. and Matsuo, H. (1988) Nature 332,78-81 8 Staendert, D. G., Needleman, P. and Saper, C. 8. (1988) in Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology (Vol. 10) (Martini, L. and Ganong, W. F., eds), pp. 63-78, Raven

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C. K. and Wilson, D. R. (1986) Am. 1. Physiol. 250, F963-F966 Goetz, K. I. (1988) Am. 1. Physiol. 254, El-El5 Schulz-Knappe, P. et al. (1988) Klin. Wochenschr. 66, 752-759 McKenzie, J. C., Tanaka, I., Misono, K. S. and Inagami, T. (1985) J. Histochem. Cytochem. 33,828-832 FIiigge, G., Inagami, T. and Fuchs, E. (1987) Histochemistry 86,479-483 Marumo, F., Umetani, N., Sakamoto, H., Ando, K. and Ishigami, T. (1986) Biothem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 137, 231-236 Sonnenbq, J. L. et al. (1988) Peptides 9, Xi-180 Gagelmann, M., Hock, D. and Forssmann, W. G. (1988) FEBS Lett. 233, 24Q54 Feller, S. M., Schulz-Knappe, P. and Forssmann, W. G. (1988) Circulation 78 (SuppI. II), II-429 Forssmann, W. G. (1986) Eur. 1. Clin. Invest. 16, 439-451 Ueda, S. et al. (1987) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 149,1-355-1062 Ong, H. et al. (19871 Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 147,957-963 Berg, J. A., Hayashi, M., Fujii, Y. and Katz, A. I. (1988) Am. J. Physiol. 255, F46GF473 Sakata, M., GreenwaId, J. E. and Needleman, P. (1988) Proc. Natl Acod. Sci. USA 85,315s3159 Riegger, G. A. J., Elsner, D., SchulzKnappe, P., Forssmann, W. G. and Kramer, E. P. (1988) Circulntion 78 (Suppl. II), II-429

ement Xlth International Congress of Pharmacology 14 July 1990 Amsterdam The Netherlands The organizing committee of the Xlth IUPHAR Congress invites all colleagues in the field of pharmacology, toxicology and related sciences, to attend the forthcoming international meeting in Amsterdam. The structure of the programme allows for the exchange of information in various ways: main lectures, debates, symposia, workshop, oral communications and poster presentations. Both basic and clinical aspects of pharmacology and toxicology will be included in the programme. Special emphasis will be given to the recent developments of promising new areas in pharmacology. If you wish to attend the meeting, receive the advance programme and/or submit an abstract, please contact the Congress Secretariat. CongressSecretariat Xlfh f?AI International Congressof Pharmacology c/o Oganisatie Bureau Amsterdam BV Europapkin 12 1078 GZAMSTERDAM The Netherlands Tel: (31)20 - 549 72 12; telex: 13499 raico; telefax: (31)20 - 46 44 69