Icatibant blocks but does not reverse ACE inhibitor renal effect in Goldblatt rabbit

This study examined the proposition that kinins are involved in the renal hemodynamic effect of an ACE inhibitor in Goldblatt (GB) hypertension. The effects of the ACE inhibitor enalaprilat were compared in two groups of anesthetized two-kidney one-clip GB rabbits. One group (n = 11) was given enalaprilat (10 mg/kg, i.v.) while a second group (n = 10) received the kinin B2 receptor antagonist, icatibant (2.5-5 microg/kg/min, i.v.) prior to enalaprilat. Enalaprilat caused a 40% rise in renal blood flow and 11 mm Hg decrease in blood pressure in the untreated, but no significant renal effect in the icatibant-treated group. Blood pressure was reduced to the same degree in both groups. The results indicate that kinins play a major role in the renal hemodynamic, but not the blood pressure effect of ACE inhibition in the GB rabbit.