Atrial natriuretic factor-potentiating and antihypertensive activity of SCH 34826. An orally active neutral metalloendopeptidase inhibitor

Abstract

The effects of SCH 34826, an orally active neutral metalloendopeptidase inhibitor, on responses to atrial natriuretic factor-(103-125) or -(99-126) and on blood pressure were evaluated in rats. SCH 34826 (10, 30, and 90 mg/kg s.c. and 90 mg/kg p.o.) potentiated the antihypertensive action of atrial natriuretic factor (30 micrograms/kg i.v.) in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats. SCH 34826 (90 mg/kg) also potentiated the diuretic and natriuretic responses to atrial natriuretic factor (30 micrograms/kg i.v.) as well as the plasma levels achieved after peptide injection. SCH 34826 significantly reduced blood pressure in the conscious deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rat, at doses of 90 mg/kg s.c. (-35 +/- 12 mm Hg), 10 mg/kg p.o. (-30 +/- 7 mm Hg), and 90 mg/kg p.o. (-45 +/- 6 mm Hg). SCH 34826 was devoid of acute antihypertensive activity in the spontaneously hypertensive rat but reduced blood pressure by day 3 of a 5-day treatment schedule. SCH 34826 (90 mg/kg s.c.) enhanced urine volume output in the deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt rat (2.78 +/- 0.6 vs. 1.27 +/- 0.3 ml/100 g/3 hr in vehicle-control rats, p less than 0.05). SCH 34826 (90 mg/kg s.c.) increased plasma levels of atrial natriuretic factor at 1 hour (753 +/- 89 vs. 451 +/- 79 pg/ml in vehicle-treated rats, p less than 0.05) but not 3 hours after dosing. The renal excretion of atrial natriuretic factor (3,092 +/- 1,089 vs. 21 +/- 6 pg/100 g/3 hr in vehicle-treated rats, p less than 0.05) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (2,131 +/- 509 vs. 879 +/- 168 pg/100 g/3 hr in vehicle-treated rats, p less than 0.05) was markedly elevated by SCH 34826 in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt rats. These studies suggest that neutral endopeptidase inhibition may represent a new approach to treatment of some forms of hypertension.