Characterization of neutral endopeptidase in vascular smooth muscle cells of rabbit renal cortex

The presence of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and its possible involvement in the degradation of atrial natriuretic factors (ANF) were investigated. Synthetic substrate hydrolysis, anti-NEP antibodies and Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of NEP in VSMC. Incubation of labeled ANF with VSMC and the NEP inhibitor thiorpan showed that NEP is involved in the catabolism of ANF by VSMC.