Chronic Ethanol Ingestion Modifies the Renin‐Aldosterone Axis Independent of Alterations in the Regulation of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

Using an animal model, we have investigated the effects of chronic ethanol ingestion on the regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) synthesis and release. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were maintained for 6 weeks on a liquid diet of ethanol (up to 20% v/v) as part of a 2% solution of calf milk replacer. Weight‐matched controls received an equal volume of ethanol‐free solution, and normal animals drank ad libitum. All animals received rat chow throughout the experiment. This model produced physiologically relevant levels of blood ethanol, as concentrations at the time of sacrifice were 171.98 ± 39.26 mg/dl. Plasma renin activity was significantly elevated in response to ethanol treatment, whereas circulating aldosterone concentration was reduced. No alterations in the plasma or atrial tissue levels of ANP were evident, although we did observe a significant increase in the ventricular tissue levels of ANP from 45.1 to 71.8 ng/g as a consequence of ethanol treatment. Levels of both atrial and ventricular ANP mRNA were not different between alcohol‐treated and liquid‐restricted control animals, although both groups showed significant increases in the amount of transcript in comparison with rats drinking ad libitum. No significant increases in either arterial blood pressure or heart/body weight ratio were observed for ethanoltreated rats. These results suggest that modifications in the reninaldosterone axis can occur independently of alterations in the regulation of ANP under the influence of chronic ethanol ingestion.