Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are 
important biological markers and regulators of cardiac function. The natriuretic 
peptide receptor A (NPRA), also known as NPR1 or guanylyl cyclase A, binds ANP 
and BNP to initiate transmembrane signal transduction by elevating the 
intracellular levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate. However, the effects and 
mechanisms downstream of NPRA are largely unknown. The aim of the present study 
was to evaluate the changes in the global pattern of mRNA and circular RNA 
(circRNA) expression in NPRA‑/‑ and NPRA+/+ myocardium. Differentially expressed 
mRNA molecules were characterised using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of 
Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and were found to be primarily related to 
metabolic processes. Moreover, circRNA expression was also examined, and a 
possible competing endogenous RNA network consisting of circRNA, microRNA 
(miRNA), and mRNA molecules was constructed. The results of this study indicated 
that NPRA may play a role in cardiac metabolism, which could be mediated by 
circRNA through endogenous competition mechanisms. These findings may provide 
insight into future characterisation of various ceRNA network pathways.