[Activity of plasma kininase I and kininase II in hypertensive rats]

This study was undertaken to verify the activity of plasma kininases in hypertension. Male Wistar rats (WIS) were used and three models of experimental hypertension were studied: spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), renal hypertensive rats, made according to the method of Goldblatt, DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Normal Wistar rats, nephrectomized rats and sodium-loaded rats were used as control groups. Plasma from these animals was used to evaluate the kininase activities: kininase II activity (KII) was measured by the hydrolysis of hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine (HHL); kininase I activity (KI) was measured by the hydrolysis of hippuryl-L-arginine (HLA) (CN1 activity) and of hippuryl-L-lysine (HLL) (CN2 activity). The three enzyme activities were characterized by their kinetic constants and the inhibitory pattern of various inhibitors. In normal WIS rats, hydrolysis of HHL proceeds with a Km of 2.55 +/- 0.22 mM and at a Vmax of 0.357 +/- 0.017 mumol/min/ml; the enzyme is inhibited by EDTA, 0-phenanthroline and captopril. HLA has a Km of 6.93 +/- 0.32 mM and a Vmax of 0.748 +/- 0.019 mumol/min/ml while the Km and Vmax values of HLL are 35.8 +/- 1.52 mM and 13.11 +/- 0.40 mumol/min/ml. The hydrolysis of both substrates is inhibited by EDTA, 0-phenanthroline and MERGETPA. KII activity is decreased in WKY and SHR rats (Vmax = 0.241 +/- 0.014 and 0.262 +/- 0.011 mumol/min/ml, respectively). In renal hypertensive rats and DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, the KII activity remained unchanged. CN1 activity was increased in 1K, 1C hypertensive animals (Vmax = 0.866 +/- 0.221 mumol/min/ml) and in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats (Vmax = 1.119 +/- 0.049 mumol/min/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)