Kinin receptors and angiotensin converting enzyme in rabbits basilar arteries

Bradykinin (BK) initially produced concentration related relaxations of the rabbit basilar artery in vitro under resting tension and when contracted with 5-hydroxytryptamine. Concentration-effect (C-E) curves to BK repeated at 2 h intervals over an 8-10 h period resulted in the production of progressively increased contractile responses. The induction of these contractile responses to BK was prevented by pre-incubation of these tissues with cycloheximide. On tissues which had been challenged with BK at 2 h intervals for 8 h in the absence of cycloheximide the rank order of potency of three kinins to produce contraction was methionyl-lysyl-BK (M-L-BK) greater than BK greater than des-Arg9-BK. On the same tissues the specific B1-receptor antagonist des-Arg9-Leu8-BK inhibited the contractile effects of BK. These results suggest the presence of a B1-receptor mediating contraction. The rank order of potency of the kinins to produce relaxation of tissues preincubated with cycloheximide was BK greater than M-L-BK greater than des-Arg9-BK which suggests the presence of a B2-receptor mediating these responses. Angiotensin I (AI) and angiotensin II (AII) produced concentration related contractions of the tissue. The angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors captopril, BPP5a and BPP9a inhibited responses to AI but had no effect on contractile C-E curves to BK, AII and 5-HT or on relaxant C-E curves to BK. These results suggest that the rabbit basilar artery in vitro contains two BK receptors, a B1 receptor mediating contraction and a B2 receptor mediating relaxation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)