Jørgen Frøkiær

The antihypertensive actions of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have been linked to release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in mice. Whether a GLP-1 - ANP axis exists in humans is unknown. We examined twelve healthy young males in a randomised, controlled, double-blinded, single-day, cross-over study to evaluate the effects of a two-hour native GLP-1 infusion. Plasma proANP concentrations were measured by an automated mid-region-directed proANP immunoassay and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) on Roche Modular E170. Urine was collected for measurements of sodium excretion. Although GLP-1 infusion increased the urinary sodium excretion markedly there were no significant changes in either proANP or proBNP concentrations. When GLP-1 infusion was stopped, sodium excretion rapidly declined. Since proANP concentration reflects ANP secretion our data cannot confirm the existence of a GLP-1 - ANP axis in humans. Especially the natriuretic effects of GLP-1 seem unlikely to be mediated exclusively via ANP.