Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) is a hormone secreted by the heart with a unique spectrum of actions: natriuresis, diuresis, vasorelaxation and suppression of the renin-angiotensin system. This thesis is divided into four sections each of which examines a different aspect of ANP. The common theme is the question of how the actions of ANP may be "harnessed" therapeutically, either directly using novel inhibitors of the enzyme Neutral Endopeptidase (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11) which degrades ANP, or indirectly, by investigating potential interactions with available therapeutic agents including Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers.