• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 1993

The biochemical characteristics of immunorecative atrial natriuretic peptide (irAUPP and the changes in the levels of irANP in the heart were investigated during the metamorphosis of frog tadpoles. Immunohistochemical localization of pro-ANP in cardiocfes and the presence of irAW in the peritoneal fluid of metamorphosing tadpoles were also examined. The major form of irANP in the cardiocvtes of tadpoles (Rana omurensisp was high molecular weight on gel filtration chromatographv and reverse-phase HPLC. The levels of irANP in the atrium of tadpoles were five to seven times higher than those in the ventricle. In metamorphosing tadpoles the levels of irANP in the atrium increased at stage XX, the climax of metamorphosis, and decreased at stage XXV (P < 0.051, the completion of metamorphosis. When the levels of irANP was expressed as a function of body weight of tadpoles, a continuous increase in the levels of irANP was observed from pre- to postmetamorphosis (P < 0.051. The levels of irAUP in the ventricle were found to be higher in the adult frogs than in tadpoles (R. omurensisl (P < 0.01). Pro-ANP (31-67) immunoreactivity was detected in the ventricle as well as in the atrium of tadpoles fR. nigromaculotal. The peritoneal fluid was also found to contain low molecular weight of irAUP and the levmils of irANP were 55.4 $\pm$ 9.1 pg/ml. Changes of the level of irANP at different stases of the life cycle suggest that ANP may play a role in the regulation of body fluid homeostasis of frog tadpoles during the metamorphosis.