We have investigated the inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation by rat atrial natriuretic factor [rANF-(99-126)] and several synthetic peptides that bind selectively to the ANF-C-type clearance receptors in subcultured aortic smooth muscle cells. These peptides decreased serum-induced 1) [3H]thymidine incorporation, 2) cell proliferation, and 3) thymidine kinase activity without altering basal or elevated cAMP or cGMP levels. In contrast, another ANF-C-receptor-binding peptide, des[Gln116,Ser117,Gly118,Leu119,Gly120] rANF-(102-121)-NH2 (cANF), failed to decrease serum-induced mitogenesis, yet 100 nM cANF reversed the inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation and the decrease of thymidine kinase activity elicited by other C receptor-binding peptides, including rANF-(99-126), rANF-(103-125), and porcine C-type natriuretic peptide [pCNP-(1-22)]. Delayed addition experiments indicated that atrial peptides influence a relatively late event (or events) during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The inhibition of DNA synthesis by C-receptor-binding atrial peptides appeared to be selective for aortic smooth muscle cells, inasmuch as a potent inhibitory agonist peptide, Cys116-rANF-(102-116), was without significant influence on the incorporation of thymidine in cultured rat mesangial cells or bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. These results indicate that atrial natriuretic peptide analogues decrease vascular smooth muscle cell mitogenesis and proliferation by a cyclic nucleotide-independent mechanism involving the C-type receptor. Moreover the inhibition of DNA synthesis by rANF-(99-126) and the neuropeptide pCNP-(1-22) appears to be mediated by the ANF-C-type receptor and is associated with inhibition of thymidine kinase activity.