An atrial peptide hormone that may regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance within the body. An example is a peptide hormone.
A peptide secreted by the atrial tissue of the heart in response to an increase in blood pressure. It influences blood pressure, blood volume, and cardiac output. It increases the excretion of sodium and water in urine, thereby lowering blood volume and blood pressure and influencing cardiac output. Its secretion rate depends on glomerular filtration rate and inhibits sodium reabsorption in distal tubules. These actions reduce the workload of the heart. Also called atrial natriuretic hormone or atrial natriuretic peptide.