Overview

The Cardiovascular Endocrinology Laboratory focuses on the effects of hormones in the regulation of the function of the heart and blood vessels. Most of the work arises from our discovery of the endocrine function of the heart and the isolation, purification, and sequencing of the hormone atrial natriuretic factor (ANF, also known as ANP). ANF and another cardiac hormone named brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are jointly referred to as cardiac natriuretic peptides (NPs). This work established that the heart, in addition to its function as a pump, secretes hormones that play important roles in the maintenance of cardiovascular health.