Pharmacological preconditioning with bradykinin affords myocardial protection through NO-dependent mechanisms

Bradykinin (BK) is one of the triggers of ischemic preconditioning. Protein kinase C (PKC) and mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium (K(ATP)) channels are central factors in cardioprotection afforded by BK. However, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the early phase protection of preconditioning with BK is not well understood. We assessed the signaling pathway of the early phase protection of pharmacological preconditioning afforded by BK. Isolated perfused rat hearts (n = 8/group) were subjected to 30-minute global ischemia and 50-minute reperfusion. Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) was recorded prior to the global ischemia and at the end of reperfusion. Preconditioning with BK was induced by two cycles of 5-minute infusion of BK (0.5 micromol/L) and 5-minute washout prior to the global ischemia. To examine participants in the signaling pathway, 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD, 200 micromol/L), chelerythrine (CH, 5 micromol/L), or N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 50 mmol/L) was added to the perfusate for 5 minutes prior to the infusion of BK. Pharmacological preconditioning by BK improved postischemic recovery of LVSP (+ 45.1% versus control, P < 0.01). Protection by BK was abolished by coadministration of CH, 5-HD, or L-NAME. BK affords myocardial protection in the early phase of pharmacological preconditioning through a pathway that includes endogenous NO, PKC, and mitochondrial K(ATP) channels.