Ouabain-like factor: Is this the natriuretic hormone?

This review focuses on the most recent data published in the field of the sodium-potassium pump inhibitors regarding the hypothetical structure, the secretory stimuli and the pathophysiological implications for particular diseases, such as hypertension. On the basis of the findings published so far, we reconsider and discuss the 'natriuretic hypothesis for explaining the role of the endogenous sodium-potassium ATPase inhibitor. We propose the ouabain-like factor as a modulator of the renal sodium-potassium pump, that can be considered as a new pharmacological target for hypertension therapy. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.