Skip to main content
Log in

Role of ACE and NEP in bradykinin-induced relaxation and contraction response of isolated porcine basilar artery

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) in bradykinin (BK)-induced relaxation and contraction of isolated porcine basilar artery by measuring isometric tension, ACE and NEP activities and their localization. BK induced endothelium-dependent relaxation followed by contraction; however, in the presence of indomethacin BK induced relaxation but not contraction, in contrast, in the presence of L-nitro-arginine BK induced contraction but not relaxation. Captopril and thiorphan increased the pD 2 value for BK-induced relaxation from 8.11 to 9.55 and the pA 2 value for [Thi5,8, D-Phe7]-BK (a B2-receptor antagonist) from 6.95 to 7.59. The same treatment increased the pD 2 value for BK-induced contraction from 7.93 to 8.97 and the pA 2 value for [Thi5,8, D-Phe7]-BK from 6.86 to 7.50. Captopril inhibited ACE activity with an IC50 of 38.0 nM, and thiorphan inhibited NEP and ACE activities with an IC50 of 1.4 nM and 295.0 nM, respectively. Endothelial denudation decreased the ACE and NEP activities by 76.7% and 15.9%, respectively, and ACE mRNA level by 59.4%, but had no significant effect on NEP mRNA level. These results suggest that BK-induced relaxation and contraction in the porcine basilar artery are enhanced by captopril and thiorphan which predominantly inhibit ACE activity localized on endothelial cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Electronic Publication

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miyamoto, A., Murata, S. & Nishio, A. Role of ACE and NEP in bradykinin-induced relaxation and contraction response of isolated porcine basilar artery. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 365, 365–370 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-002-0543-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-002-0543-0

Navigation