Bile secretion is centrally regulated by C-type natriuretic peptide

1. Current evidence supports that C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is the brain natriuretic peptide. Natriuretic peptide receptors and mRNA CNP have been reported in the liver and in discrete areas and nucleus of the central nervous system involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal physiology. In the present work, we sought to establish the role of CNP in the central regulation of bile secretion in the rat and to delineate the possible pathways and mechanisms involved.