Atrial natriuretic peptide. II. Pathophysiology and possible clinical significance. Review

The heart atrium, as well as under certain pathophysiological conditions the ventricle, synthesize and release ANP. Exerting natriuretic, diuretic and vasorelaxant effects, this peptide plays an important role in the body's blood volume and blood pressure homeostasis. Whereas the pharmacological actions of ANP have been quite convincingly demonstrated, its physiological and pathophysiological role is less well defined. ANP plasma levels tend to be increased in diseases with salt and water retention, such as essential hypertension, congestive heart failure, renal failure or liver cirrhosis. With regard to its hemodynamic effects, ANP seems to be beneficial in patients with hypertension. ANP appears to have little therapeutic potential as a diuretic in patients with congestive heart failure and liver cirrhosis, possibly due to the decreased renal responsiveness to ANP in these diseases. However, ANP might to be a valuable therapeutic agent in acute renal failure.     

海水养殖水体中的危害性纤虫2新种——小冠须虫和拟迈氏冠须虫↑（*）

报道了采自青岛海区贝类育苗和养成池中的２ 种原纤类纤毛虫———小冠须虫Ｓｔｅｐｈａｎｏｐｏｇｏｎ ｍｉｎｕｔａ ｎ ．ｓｐ ．和拟迈氏冠须虫Ｓ．ｐａａｒａｍｅｓｎｉｌｉ ｎ ．ｓｐ．。依据蛋白银染色并结合活体观察,对其形态学做了综合描述,并就其主要鉴定特征与相近种进行了比较。