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In spite of long term expectations of the discovery of heart natriuretic substance only nine years ago the atrial natriuretic peptide was discovered. Some essential data about structure, synthesis, secretion and effects of the peptide are given in the article The regulation of the synthesis and excretion is presented. Two groups of the structurally and functionally different peptide’s receptors are described. The importance of the receptor sites for the possible therapeutic usage is great. For the present the clinical importance of the atrial natriuretic peptide is limited to the evaluation of the peptide’s plasma concentration as a prognostic factor. Therapeutic usage of the peptide in the pathological states with volume overload is in experimental phase.