C-type natriuretic peptide expression and pulmonary vasodilation in hypoxia-adapted rats

Atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP, respectively) are potent pulmonary vasodilators that are upregulated in hypoxia-adapted rats and may protect against hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. To test the hypothesis that C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) also modulates pulmonary vascular responses to hypoxia, we compared the vasodiator effect of CNP with that of ANP on pulmonary arterial rings, thoracic aortic rings, and isolated perfused lungs obtained from normoxic and hypoxia-adapted rats.