Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Natriuretic peptide hormones'
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Hove, Runyararo Memory. "Evolutionary development and functional role of plant natriuretic peptide (PNP)-B." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/155.
Full textPharmawati, Made, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "A study of the natriuretic peptide hormone system in plants." Deakin University. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 1999. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20060727.145040.
Full textBastian, René. "Characterisation of AtPNP-A - a novel arabidopsis thaliana gene with role in water and salt homeostasis." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/2818.
Full textPlant natriuretic peptides (PNPs) are a novel class of extracellular, systemically mobile molecules that elicit a number of plant responses important in homeostasis and growth. Natriuretic peptides were first identified in vertebrates where they play a role in the regulation of salt and water balance. Subsequent experimental investigations have identified the presence of a natriuretic peptide hormone system in plants. While PNPs have been implicated in various physiological responses such as stomatal guard cell movements and regulation of net water uptake, its biological role has remained elusive. Here we have used co-expression and promoter content analysis tools to understand the biological role of the Arabidopsis thaliana PNP (AtPNP-A). The analysis of AtPNP-A and its co-expressed genes revealed that genes annotated as part of the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) pathway were over-represented, thus suggesting that AtPNP-A may function as a component of plant defense responses and specifically, SAR. The results further show that AtPNP-A shares many characteristics with pathogenesis related (PR) proteins in that its transcription is strongly induced in response to pathogen challenges, thus implying a newly described role for AtPNP-A in pathogen attack. Additional tissue expression analysis also indicated distinct localization of PNP activity in sepals and transcriptional meta-analysis showed that AtPNP-A may play a role in starch breakdown. Therefore, together with the finding that AtPNP-A plays a role in regulating phloem transport, we also hypothesize that AtPNP-A may play a role in phloem unloading in sepals to assist processes such as seed formation in plants. In plants, the second messenger, guanosine 3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) mediates a whole range of important processes including salinity tolerance, disease resistance, drought tolerance and responses to light. Since PNPs regulate water and salt homeostasis via a cGMP-dependent signaling pathways, it is thus important to analyse the transcriptome induced by the second messenger (cGMP) in Arabidopsis thaliana to give a better understanding of its mechanism of action. This study was also supplemented by the analysis of the gibberellic acid (GA) dependent transcriptome, since cGMP also plays a role its transcription pathway. This data analysis, together with promoter content investigation, revealed that genes upregulated after cGMP treatment and down-regulated in the GA insensitive mutant (ga1-3) were enriched with a GA response element (GARE), while no GARE enrichment were observed in genes up-regulated in the ga1-3 mutant. These findings suggest that GARE is indicative of GA-induced and cGMP-dependent transcriptional up-regulation. Gene ontology analysis confirmed previous reports that cGMP is involved in ion homeostasis and indicated that the transcriptional cGMP response is bi-polar in the sense that both genes up- and down-regulated in response to cGMP is involved in cation transport. Additionally, ab initio analysis of genes transcriptionally dependent on cGMP identified CHX8 as a hub gene and promoter content of CHX8 co-expressed genes show enrichment of the GARE motif. The fact that CHX8 has its highest expression levels during male gametogenesis and pollen tube growth, together with our findings, suggest that GA-induced and cGMP- dependent genes may play a key role in ion and water homeostasis in the male gametophyte. Finally, we propose that the type of analysis undertaken here can yield new insights into gene regulation networks and inform experimental strategies to unravel complex transcription regulatory systems under different developmental and stimulus specific conditions.
South Africa
Mellor, Adrian John. "Hormonal adaptation to acute and chronic hypoxia : the role of brain natriuretic peptide and stress hormones in the diagnosis and etiology of altitude illness." Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/3202.
Full textNetchitailo, Pierre. "La corticostéroïdogénèse chez un amphibien anoure : mécanismes intracellulaires et contrôle multifactoriel." Rouen, 1987. http://www.theses.fr/1987ROUES037.
Full textFan, Xiaohui. "Uroguanylin : molecular cloning and characterization of a potential natriuretic hormone /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 1997. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p9841285.
Full textRuzvidzo, Oziniel. "Plant Natriuretic Peptides - Elucidation of the Mechanisms of Action." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2009. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_5854_1285860491.
Full textSeveral lines of cellular and physiological evidence have suggested the presence of a novel class of systemically mobile plant molecules that are recognized by antibodies generated against vertebrate atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs). Functional characterization of these immunoanalogues, referred to as immunoreactive plant natriuretic peptides (irPNPs) or plant natriuretic peptides (PNPs), has shown that they play important roles in a number of cellular processes crucial for plant growth and maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Although the various biological roles of PNPs in plants are known, their exact mode of action remains elusive. To elucidate the mechanisms of action for these immunoanalogues, we have prepared a biologically active recombinant PNP from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPNP-A) and the biological activity was demonstrated by showing its ability to induce water uptake into Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts. In addition, the molecule was shown to downregulate photosynthesis while at the same time up-regulating respiration, transpiration as well as net water uptake and retention capacities in the sage Plectranthus ecklonii. Further analysis of the recombinant AtPNP-A indicated that the peptide can induce systemic response signalling though the phloem. A recombinant Arabidopsis wall associated kinase-like protein (AtWAKL10) that has a domain organization resembling that of vertebrate natriuretic peptide (NP) receptors was also partially characterized as a possible receptor for the recombinant AtPNP-A. Vertebrate NP receptors contain an extracellular ligand-binding domain and an intracellular guanylate cyclase (GC)/kinase domain and signal through the activity of their GC domain that is capable of generating intracellular cGMP from GTP. The structural resemblance of AtWAKL10 to vertebrate NP receptors could suggest a functional homology with receptor molecules and it is conceivable that such a receptor may recognize PNPs as ligands. The characterization of the recombinant AtWAKL10 showed that the molecule functions as both a GC and a kinase in vitro. This strengthened the suggestion that AtWAKL10 could be a possible AtPNP-A receptor especially considering the fact that AtPNP-A applications to plant cells also
trigger cGMP transients. Furthermore, a bioinformatic analysis of the functions of AtPNP-A and AtWAKL10 has inferred both molecules in plant pathogen responses and defense mechanisms, thus indirectly functionally linking the two proteins.
Zhang, Jin. "Inhibition of pulsatile luteinizing hormone release by atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide in the ovariectomized rat." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/29412.
Full textMedicine, Faculty of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of
Graduate
Taskinen, P. (Panu). "Mapping the cellular mechanisms regulating atrial natriuretic peptide secretion." Doctoral thesis, Oulun yliopisto, 1999. http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9514252721.
Full textZhang, Yi. "Implications of natriuretic peptides and endothelin-1 release during myocardial ischaemia." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1998. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phz6334.pdf.
Full textMäkikallio, A. (Anne). "Cardiovascular autonomic and hormonal dysregulation in ischemic stroke with an emphasis on survival." Doctoral thesis, University of Oulu, 2005. http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9514278526.
Full textCasanova, Gislaine Krolow. "Impacto da terapia hormonal com baixa dose oral ou não oral sobre fatores de risco cardiovascular na menopausa." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/98471.
Full textDuring the menopausal transition and postmenopause about 75% of women have symptoms of hypoestrogenism symptoms such as hot flushes. The use of hormone therapy (HT) for relief of menopausal symptoms is well established, but its cardiovascular effects (CV) remain controversial. Data from more recent studies suggest the presence of two distinct populations regarding the cardiovascular effects of HT. This differentiation is related mainly to age and time after menopause. Evidence also suggests that the presence of cardiovascular risk factors before the onset of HT, or a combination of risk factors may be determinants of CV effects of HT. Medication dose, route of administration and type of progestin used in combination with estrogen for HT has also been studied as possible factors related to the CV impact of HT. This work consists of: 1) Randomized clinical trial, comparing the effects of low dose oral and non-oral route of variables related to CV risk in a population of healthy women in early postmenopausal; 2) A randomized clinical trial, which we assessed the effects of the addition of natural micronized progesterone to non-oral estrogen for HT in women in early postmenopausal; and 3) systematic review and meta-analysis, which were systematically searched all items with low-dose HT to assess the effects of this therapy on variables related to cardiovascular risk: weight, body mass index, blood pressure, C-reactive protein and lipids. A cross-over, randomized clinical trial was designed in order to evaluate the effects of two types of HT: low dose oral treatment, estradiol oral 1 mg and drospirenone 2 mg, by day and non-oral treatment, estradiol 1.5 mg 17 β gel by percutaneous route (or nasal route 300 mcg) by day and vaginal micronized progesterone, 200 mg/d, 14 days by month on atrial natriuretic peptide, variables associated with inflammation and endothelial function, anthropometric and metabolic variables on early and healthy postmenopausal women. One hundred one women were randomly allocated to start with one of the treatments: low dose oral treatment (n=50) or non-oral treatment (n=51). At the end the first three months period, the patients were crossed over without washout for an additional three months. Laboratory evaluated were carried before and after oral and non-oral HT. The sample of the study included postmenopausal women with a mean age of 51 years and duration of amenorrhea of 22±10 months. Eighty-six patients completed the study. Weight and body mass index remained unchanged, while the waist circumference decreased similarly in both treatment groups. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol reduced after both the HT and triglycerides reduced only after nonoral HT. Insulin and fasting glucose did not change. No changes were observed in the levels of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) after oral HT. After non-oral HT, there was a significant reduction of fibrinogen and vWF. CRP levels did not change. There was a reduction in the number of patients in the highest tertile of CRP (high CV risk) after non-oral HT. These patients have joined the groups of intermediate and low risk. Levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, ANP, were unchanged after both HT. There were no significant changes on blood pressure and did not correlate with values of ANP. We performed additional analysis of nonoral HT, for the differences between nasal and percutaneous and about the effects of addition of natural micronized progesterone to estrogen. There were no significant differences for all the variables studied between the nasal and percutaneously. The addition of micronized natural progesterone did not modify the metabolic and CV effects of non-oral estrogen. Systematic search of all articles that include as TH low dose estrogen and evaluate the effects of this treatment on the variables of interest was taken: weight, body mass index, blood pressure, C-reactive protein and lipids. The MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE databases were consulted. All references of interest and reviews and meta-analyzes on the subject, in search of relevant articles were reviewed. After removing duplicate articles, 8610 articles were reviewed. Of these, 28 articles were selected for meta-analysis. From this analysis it was concluded that patients using low-dose TH had on average lower body weight, total cholesterol and LDL-C than non-users. The TH low dose showed no deleterious effects on other variables. In conclusion, low-dose oral and non-oral treatments had neutral or beneficial effects on variables related to CV risk in a population of women in early post menopausal and without evidence of CV disease. The addition of micronized natural progesterone did not modify the effects of non-oral estrogen. The results of the metaanalysis of low dose and TH variables related CV risk also showed that the TH low dose did not exert deleterious effects on lipids and blood pressure, and a possible beneficial effect of this treatment on body weight was observed.
Ärnlöv, Johan. "Left Ventricular Function in Elderly Men : Metabolic, Hormonal, Genetic and Prognostic Implications." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala University, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, 2002. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-2937.
Full textHeart failure and left ventricular dysfunction are major causes of morbidity and mortality. In this thesis, metabolic, hormonal, genetic and prognostic aspects of echocardiographically determined left ventricular function were investigated in a fairly large longitudinal population-based study of men. The participants were examined both at age 50 and 70 years and were followed for mortality using the national cause-of-death registry.
Several factors associated with the insulin resistance syndrome predicted left ventricular systolic dysfunction independent of myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes and the use of cardiovascular medication after twenty years follow-up. Plasma levels of N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (N-ANP) were significantly increased in men with left ventricular dysfunction in comparison to healthy men. However, the diagnostic accuracy was poor due to the extensive overlapping between the groups. Relations between a haplotype of the novel hUNC-93B1 gene and the E/A-ratio were found and validated in separate samples of the cohort. Myocardial performance index (a Doppler derived index of combined left ventricular systolic and diastolic function) and left ventricular ejection fraction were found to be predictors for cardiovascular mortality independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in a longitudinal analysis with a mean follow-up of seven years.
In conclusion, this thesis showed that left ventricular function is influenced by metabolic, hormonal and genetic factors and that echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular function, such as the myocardial performance index, are strong independent risk factors for cardiovascular mortality in elderly men.
Saulnier, Pierre-Jean. "Étude des déterminants génétiques et environnementaux des complications du diabète de type 2." Thesis, Poitiers, 2012. http://www.theses.fr/2012POIT1403/document.
Full textType 2 diabetes (T2D) is a public health issue because of vascular and renal complications, which are complex diseases with interaction between genetic and environmental determinants.The objective of this work was to study these determinants in three independent populations of T2D patients by coupling cross-sectional (DIAB2NEPHROGENE) and longitudinal studies (SURDIAGENE and DIABHYCAR). Through a candidate-gene approach, we first focused on the natriuretic peptides system, NPR3 gene and sodium intake and then on the metabolic pathway of sex hormones, CYP19A1 gene (coding for aromatase) and sex steroid levels.Our first results showed that NPR3 rs2270915 G Allele was associated with high blood pressure (BP) and a reduced salt-sensitivity of BP. However, this SNP was not associated with any significant risk of cardio-vascular events (CVE) or death, at variance with rs6889608. Ultimately, CVE-free survival was impacted by salt intake with a reduced risk of morbi-mortality in those patients having the greatest intake, though a higher BP.In our second study, we confirmed that male gender was a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy (DN), but also for the occurrence of CVE. In men, we showed higher levels of estradiol (E2) associated with a higher prevalence of ND but without any significant increase in renal or CVE during follow-up. CYP19A1 variants were not associated with either E2 levels or the prevalence of ND. However, 2 SNPs tested, were significantly associated with the occurrence of end stage renal failure. Altogether, we have identified 2 different metabolic ways contributing to the genetic determinants of complications associated with T2D including a gene-environment interaction
Bastian, René. "Characterisation of AtPNP-A - A novel Arabidopsis thaliana gene with a role in water and salt homeostasis." Thesis, 2009. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_8138_1285798367.
Full textPlant natriuretic peptides (PNPs) are a novel class of extracellular, systemically mobile molecules that elicit a number of plant responses important in homeostasis and growth. Natriuretic peptides were first identified in vertebrates where they play a role in the regulation of salt and water balance. Subsequent experimental investigations have identified the presence of a natriuretic peptide hormone system in plants. While PNPs have been implicated in various physiological responses such as stomatal guard cell movements and regulation of net water uptake, its biological role has remained elusive. Here we have used co-expression and promoter content analysis tools to understand the biological role of the Arabidopsis thaliana PNP (AtPNP-A). The analysis of AtPNP-A and its co-expressed genes revealed that genes annotated as part of the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) pathway were over-represented, thus suggesting that AtPNP-A may function as a component of plant defense responses and specifically, SAR. The results further show that AtPNP-A shares many characteristics with pathogenesis related (PR) proteins in that its transcription is strongly induced in response to pathogen challenges, thus implying a newly described role for AtPNP-A in pathogen attack. Additional tissue expression analysis also indicated distinct localization of PNP activity in sepals and transcriptional meta-analysis showed that AtPNP-A may play a role in starch breakdown. Therefore, together with the finding that AtPNP-A plays a role in regulating phloem transport, we also hypothesize that AtPNP-A may play a role in phloem unloading in sepals to assist processes such as seed formation in plants. In plants, the second messenger, guanosine 3&rsquo
,5&rsquo
-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) mediates a whole range of important processes including salinity tolerance, disease resistance, drought tolerance and responses to light. Since PNPs regulate water and salt homeostasis via a cGMP-dependent signaling pathways, it is thus important to analyse the transcriptome induced by the second messenger (cGMP) in Arabidopsis thaliana to give a better understanding of its mechanism of action. This study was also supplemented by the analysis of the gibberellic acid (GA) dependent transcriptome, since cGMP also plays a role its transcription pathway. This data analysis, together with promoter content investigation, revealed that genes upregulated after cGMP treatment and down-regulated in the GA insensitive mutant (ga1-3) were enriched with a GA response element (GARE), while no GARE enrichment were observed in genes up-regulated in the ga1-3 mutant. These findings suggest that GARE is indicative of GA-induced and cGMP-dependent transcriptional up-regulation. Gene ontology analysis confirmed previous reports that cGMP is involved in ion homeostasis and indicated that the transcriptional cGMP response is bi-polar in the sense that both genes up- and down-regulated in response to cGMP is involved in cation transport. Additionally, ab initio analysis of genes transcriptionally dependent on cGMP identified CHX8 as a hub gene and promoter content of CHX8 co-expressed genes show enrichment of the GARE motif. The fact that CHX8 has its highest expression levels during male gametogenesis and pollen tube growth, together with our findings, suggest that GA-induced and cGMP- dependent genes may play a key role in ion and water homeostasis in the male gametophyte. Finally, we propose that the type of analysis undertaken here can yield new insights into gene regulation networks and inform experimental strategies to unravel complex transcription regulatory systems under different developmental and stimulus specific conditions.
JIANG, FU-TIAN, and 江福田. "STUDY ON ATRIAL NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE ULTRASTRUCTRUE SECRETING FORMS GENE EXPRESSION AND THE RELATION WITH THE BLOOD PRESSURE HORMONES AND THE CARDIAC HEMODYNAMICS." Thesis, 1990. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/84107785677463897992.
Full text國立臺灣大學
醫學研究所
79
ANP 是晚近被發現的一種心臟賀爾蒙,具有強大的利尿、利鈉與血管擴張作用。 ANP 只貯存在心房特殊顆粒中,當身體需要時即釋放而;出不用時反而有愈積愈多的現象 。這在大鼠禁水的模式裡可以看出,右心房特殊顆粒禁水一週後增加了;而在人類的 標本裡,心房顆粒與鼠類略有差別,它散佈在細胞各處,不集中在細胞核周圍;它數 目少,比較小。 利用血液中具生物活性的α-ANP(1-28胺基酸)去製造單源抗體,所得到的抗體皆為 IgM 亞型,其抗原點與α ANP第 7及23胺基酸之間所形成的雙硫鍵有關。此等抗體皆 具同一抗原點,因此無法建立三明治式的免疫分析,以測定 ANP的濃度,但卻可以 用在組織免疫化學的研究上,以證實 ANP只存在於心房組織而不在心室組織。 使用放射免疫分析法,測知 ANP的濃度在心臟的冠狀靜脈竇最高,其次為右心房,因 此得知心房之 ANP大部分皆自冠狀竇分泌而出,流到右心房以至於全身。心房肌細胞 內, ANP係先以pre pro-ANP 合成,然後送到特殊顆粒貯存時,即變成 pro-ANP;當 分沁澤放到血液中,在我們的觀察,它以兩種分子形態釋出,即17KD的 pro-ANP與3kd的α-ANP,此點隱示,心房組織與血液中均存在有某種蛋白可以分解 pro-ANP 。 ANP 與心臟功能、血流動力學有極密切的關係。心臟病人左心室射出分率與血中ANP 濃度成負相關;左心功能差的, ANP濃度高;左心功能好的, ANP濃度低。自此觀點 ,血中 ANP濃度似可做為臨床上治療心衰竭病人的一個指標。此外,各種心臟病人心 臟腔室血中 ANP的濃度受到其壓力的影響。大致上,右心 ANP濃度與右心房、室壓力 有關;左心 ANP濃度則與肺動脈與左心室壓力有關。先天性心臟病病人,右心 ANP濃 度與自左至右分流量大小有關。 ANP 如同其他賀爾蒙,在正常人有晝夜濃度的差異。主要可見三種型式,第一型為晝高夜 低者,第型為晝低夜高者,第三型無晝夜差別者。其中第一、二型者,與血壓、留鹽 激素、腎素活性存在著複雜的交互調節的關係。有待進一步探討。 心房與心室組織皆同胚胎組織演化發育而來,ANP 的基因胚胎時,在兩種組織表現一 致,而到了出生後,心室即逐漸不再表現,而心房則愈來愈多。吾人從自製的cDNA基 因庫中選殖出全長的ANP cD^1A ,並利用北方墨點法證實心房與心室ANP RNA 確實有 極大的差異,此種差異的分子機轉尚不清楚,進一步研究ANP 基因分子化上的表現, 可作為研究心臟中其他基因表現受成長分化調整的一個模式。 /////// The regulation of ANP gene expression is controlled by development and pathological state. To facilitate the molecular study of ANP gene. We clone ANPcDNA, We isloate mRNA from rat atria. A cDNA library is constructed using loig-dT as primer and λ gt 10 for in-vitro packaging. The titer of the library is determined to be about 2x105 plasma forming unit. We screen thes library using an ANP oligonucleotide (5''-GCTCTCGGCTCCAATCCTGCTAATCCT-3''). Eight positive clones are harvested after secondary screening. Two of them have insert size of about 0.8 kb, which show positive signal on Southern blot. One of ghem is subcloned into plasmid vector (PGEM3Z) and sequenced by dideoxy chain termination method, which is confirmed to be the full length of ANP cDNA (813 bp). Northern blot using RNA from rat atria and ventricles, is hybridized to ANP cDNA, β-actine cDNA and F1 ATPase cDNA. We demonstrate ANP gene is specifically transcribed in atrial tissue. The molecular basis of this differential expression needs clarification.
Tauscher, Sabine Christine. "Die Rolle von Atrialen und B-Typ Natriuretischen Peptiden bei der Regulation der Insulinsekretion und Funktion pankreatischer ß-Zellen." Doctoral thesis, 2020. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-208427.
Full textThe cardiac hormones atrial (ANP) and B-type (BNP) natriuretic peptide exert well-known renal and cardiovascular actions which are mediated by their shared cGMP-forming guanylyl cyclase A receptor (GC-A). These actions are critically involved in the physiological maintenance of arterial blood pressure and intravascular volume homeostasis. In addition, recent studies indicate that NPs can increase fatty acid mobilization from adipose tissue and their oxidation by skeletal muscles and activate a thermogenic program in brown and white fat. Thereby NPs increase energy expenditure and improve insulin sensitivity. Moreover, obesity is associated with impaired NP/GC-A/cGMP signaling, which possibly contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes and its cardiometabolic complications. In vitro, synthetic ANP, via GC-A, stimulates glucose-dependent insulin release from cultured pancreatic islets and β-cell proliferation. However, the relevance for systemic insulin/glucose homeostasis in vivo is not known. To dissect whether the endogenous cardiac hormones modulate the secretory function and/or proliferation of β-cells under (patho)physiological conditions in vivo, here we generated a novel genetic mouse model with selective disruption of the GC-A receptor in β-cells (ß GC-A KO). In vitro, the insulinotropic and proliferative actions of ANP were abolished in islets isolated from β GC-A KO mice. Concordantly, in vivo, infusion of BNP mildly enhanced baseline plasma insulin levels and glucose-induced insulin secretion in control mice. This effect of exogenous BNP was abolished in β GC-A KO mice, corroborating the efficient inactivation of the GC-A receptor in β-cells. Interestingly, the ablation of the GC-A receptor under basal conditions had no effect on physiological and metabolic parameters in vivo. Both male and female ß GC-A KO animals showed no differences in basal insulin and glucose homeostasis, as they have similar fasting blood glucose and insulin levels (after overnight fasting) as the control mice. However, HFD-fed β GC-A KO animals had accelerated glucose intolerance and diminished adaptative β-cell proliferation. Apart from that, the most consistent result of the in vivo studies was the gender dependent difference in the impact of ß-cell GC-A deletion on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Female, but not male, ß GC-A KO mice showed enhanced fasted insulin levels and a markedly enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion resulting in a distinctly improved glucose tolerance. The postulated and investigated mechanism involves an interaction of estrogens and NPs affecting expression levels of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2. This thesis extends the current knowledge of the metabolic actions of the NP/GC-A system. Specifically the results indicate that natriuretic peptides contribute to enhanced ß-cell function and vitality during early stages of increased insulin demand, i.e. in type 2 diabetes. Since the studies show an essential role of these cardiac hormones in the endocrine pancreas, it becomes even more important to further investigate the pleiotropic actions of NPs and their potential therapeutic applications in cardio-metabolic diseases