Possible involvement of atrial natriuretic factor and vasopressin in antihypertensive mechanism of clonidine in humans

To appreciate the role of some neuropeptides in the antihypertensive mechanism of clonidine, 17 patients with essential hypertension were given po clonidine 150 micrograms tid for 3 d. Plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), vasopressin (Vas), and dynorphin A (Dyn A) were measured by radioimmunoassay. After the treatment, mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate and 24 h urine norepinephrine, epinephrine were decreased, but no change was found in plasma Dyn A. The magnitudes of increased ANF and decreased Vas were correlated with the decreased MBP (r = -0.57 and 0.53, respectively, P < 0.05). These results suggest that both ANF and Vas are involved in the antihypertensive mechanism of clonidine.