The natriuretic peptide system is a complicated system comprising at least three endogenous peptides (atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide and C-type natriuretic peptide) and three receptors [the atrial natriuretic peptide-A receptor (guanylyl cyclase A), the atrial natriuretic peptide-B receptor (guanylyl cyclase B) and the clearance receptor]. The accumulated evidence indicates that this system is implicated in the control of blood pressure, body fluid homeostasis and vascular remodelling as cardiac hormone and local regulator.