NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES IN THE RAT THYMUS

Previous reports have shown that Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) is present in organs of the immune system, including the thymus. Thus, a possible link of ANP to immune functions is suggested. No information exists so far for the immune system with respect to the further two natriuretic peptides, that is the Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and the C-type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP). We, therefore, investigated as to whether BNP and CNP, as well as their corresponding receptors, are expressed in the rat thymus. The data obtained by RT-PCR revealed the expression of mRNA for ANP, BNP and CNP as well as their corresponding receptors in the rat thymus.