ACE inhibitor effect on bradykinin metabolism in the vascular wall

In the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta the ACE inhibitor ramiprilat attenuated bradykinin degradation by enzymes localized on vascular endothelial cells as well as on vascular smooth muscle cells by 26% and 32%, respectively. We conclude that the ACE inhibitor can attenuate vascular bradykinin degradation not only by inhibition of endothelial ACE but also by inhibition of other bradykinin degrading enzymes in deeper layers of the vascular wall.