Mechanisms of bradykinin-induced relaxation in pig coronary arteries

Bradykinin (BK) induced endothelium- and concentration-dependent relaxations in segments of porcine posterior descending coronary arteries submaximally precontracted with the thromboxane A2 mimetic, U-46619. The effects of BK were reduced by L-NG-monomethylarginine (L-NMMA) and 6-anilinoquinoline-5,8-quinone (LY-83583), respective inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and guanylate cyclase, but were unaffected by the cytochrome P450 monoxygenase blocker, thiopentone sodium; however, BK effects were slightly reduced by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an hydroxyl radical scavenger. Relaxant responses were reduced markedly by ouabain, a sodium pump inhibitor but only slightly by tetraethylammonium (TEA) and charybdotoxin, respective blockers of Ca-activated (KCa) and large-conductance (BKCa) K+ channels. However, BK responses were practically abolished by TEA + L-NMMA + ouabain while unaffected by apamin, 4-aminopyridine and glibenclamide, blockers of small-conductance KCa voltage-sensitive and ATP-sensitive K+ channels, respectively. In segments submaximally precontracted with K+, BK-induced relaxation was lower than that of those precontracted with U-46619, and was further reduced by L-NMMA, LY-83583 and especially, ouabain; L-NMMA + ouabain + TEA abolished the effect. Precontraction of segments with higher K+ concentrations almost abolished the relaxation. These results suggest that the relaxation to BK is mediated: 1) by endothelial NO release which activates guanylate cyclase of smooth muscle cells; 2) by hydroxyl radicals; and 3) by an endothelial hyperpolarizing factor, that does not seem to be a metabolite derived from cytochrome P450 monoxygenases and that relaxes activating K+ channels (mainly BKCa), and especially, the sodium pump.