Natriuretic peptides comprise a family of three structurally related peptides; atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). The present study was performed to investigate the effect of ANP on the proliferation and activity of ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells which are well-characterized osteoblastic cell lines. ANP dose-dependently decreased the number of ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells after 48-hour treatment. ANP generally increased the alkaline phosphatase activity of ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells after 48 hr treatment, regardless of the fact that basal activity of alkaline phosphatase was much lower in HOS cells compared to that of ROS17/1.8 cells. ANP increased the NBT reduction by ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells. ANP showed the variable but no significant effect on the nitric oxide production by ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells. ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells produced and secreted gelatinase into culture medium, and this enzyme was thought to be the gelatinase A type with the molecular weight determination. The gelatinase activity produced by ROS17/2.8 cells was increased by the treatment of ANP. However, the enzyme activity was not affected by ANP treatment in the HOS cell culture. In summary, ANP decreased the proliferation and increased the alkaline phosphatase activity and NBT reduction of osteoblasts. These results indicate that ANP is one of the important regulators of bone metabolism.