CNP-22 stimulates, rather than inhibits, water drinking in the rat: evidence for a unique biological action of the C-type natriuretic peptides.

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) shares structural homology with A-type natriuretic peptide (ANP). Unlike ANP, which inhibits experimentally induced water drinking, CNP stimulates intake under similar conditions. The action of CNP to stimulate water drinking is not due to competition with ANP for the clearance receptor which recognizes both peptides since the ligand specific for that binding site, C-ANF 4-23, like ANP, inhibits water drinking under the same conditions.