The potentiation of cardiodepressant and hypotensive effects of bradykinin by enalapril and captopril both in vitro and in vivo

Bradykinin B(2) receptor does not contribute to blood pressure lowering during AT(1) receptor blockade

This study tested the hypothesis that endogenous bradykinin contributes to the effects of angiotensin AT(1) receptor blockade in humans. The effect of the bradykinin B(2) receptor antagonist d-Arg-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Thi-Ser-d-Tic-Oic-Arg (HOE-140) (18 microg/kg/h i.v. for 6 h) on hemodynamic and endocrine responses to acute and chronic (1-month) treatment with valsartan (160 mg/day) was determined in 13 normotensive and 12 hypertensive salt-deplete subjects. Acute valsartan increased plasma renin activity (PRA) from 5.3 +/- 9.9 to 15.6 +/- 19.8 ng of angiotensin (Ang) I/ml/h (P < 0.001) and decreased aldosterone from 18.3 +/- 10.5 to 12.0 +/- 9.6 ng/dl (P < 0.001). Chronic valsartan significantly increased baseline PRA (10.5 +/- 15.5 ng of Ang I/ml/h; P = 0.004) but did not affect baseline angiotensin-converting enzyme activity or aldosterone. HOE-140 tended to increase the PRA response to valsartan, and it attenuated the decrease in aldosterone following chronic valsartan (P = 0.03). Acute valsartan decreased mean arterial pressure 12.7 +/- 6.9% (from 100.2 +/- 8.4 to 87.5 +/- 9.8 mm Hg in hypertensives and from 82.4 +/- 8.6 to 70.3 +/- 8.4 mm Hg in normotensives). HOE-140 did not affect the blood pressure response to either acute (effect of valsartan, P < 0.001; effect of HOE-140, P = 0.98) or chronic (valsartan, P = 0.01; HOE-140, P = 0.84) valsartan. Plasma cGMP was increased significantly during chronic valsartan (P = 0.048) through a bradykinin receptor-independent mechanism (effect of HOE-140, P = 0.13). Both acute (P < 0.001) and chronic (P < 0.001) valsartan increased heart rate. HOE-140 augmented the heart rate response to chronic valsartan (P = 0.04). These data suggest that endogenous bradykinin does not contribute significantly to the blood pressure-lowering effect of valsartan through its B(2) receptor.

Role of hydroxyl radical formation in neurotoxicity as revealed by in vivo free radical trapping

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in dopaminergic toxicity caused by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and iron. Although MPTP produces a parkinsonian syndrome after its conversion to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP(+)) by type B monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) in the brain, the etiology of this disease remains obscure. MPP(+) is a highly potent dopaminbergic-releasing agents and dopamine (DA) autoxidation catalyzed by iron and oxidative stress may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Neuromelanine synthesis from DA produce highly reactive free radicals. Although the controversy possible neurotoxin and/or neuroprotective roles of nitric oxide (NO) was discussed, NO contributes to oxidative injury to brain neurons in vivo. An environmental estrogen-like chemical also related to MPP(+)-induced *OH generation. This review describes actual mechanism of the free radicals formation by dialysis studies of in vivo free radical trapping in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, including in the Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer disease and traumatic brain injuries.

Protective effect of imidaprilat, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on *OH generation in rat myocardium

We used a flexibly mounted microdialysis technique to the hearts of rats and examined the protective effect of imidaprilat, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, on the production of hydroxyl free radical (*OH) generation. A microdialysis probe was implanted into the left ventricular myocardium, and dialysate norepinephrine (NE) concentrations were measured as an index of myocardial interstitial NE levels. Sodium salicylate in Ringer's solution (0.5 nmol/microl/min) was directly infused through a microdialysis probe to detect the generation of *OH reflected by the formation of dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) in rat myocardium. When tyramine (1 mM) was directly infused through the microdialysis probe, the level of NE significantly increased in the dialysate and the level of NE increased by 128 +/- 43%. Imidaprilat (5, 25 and 50 microM) decreased the level of tyramine (1 mM)-induced NE in a concentration-dependent manner. Tyramine clearly produced an increase in *OH formation. In the presence of imidaprilat (50 microM), tyramine failed to increase both 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxylation. Therefore, the effects of imidaprilat on the *OH generation in the sympathetic nerve blockaded hearts by reserpine treatment were not observed. Moreover, to examine the effect of imidaprilat on *OH formation by ischemia/reperfusion of the myocardium, the heart was subjected to myocardial ischemia for 15 min by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. When the heart was reperfused, elevation of NE and 2,3- and 2,5-DHBA in imidaprilat (50 microM)-pretreated animals was not observed in the heart dialysate. Imidaprilat 2.5 mg/kg i.p. pretreatment at 5 h before coronary occlusion significantly blunted the rise of serum creatine phosphokinase and improved the electrocardiogram 2 h after coronary occlusion. These results suggest that imidaprilat, an ACE inhibitor, is associated with cardioprotective effect due to the suppression of NE-induced *OH generation.

Protective effect of imidaprilat, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced *OH generation in rat striatum

We examined the antioxidant effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+)-induced hydroxyl radical (*OH) formation in extracellular fluid of rat striatum. Rats were anesthetized and sodium salicylate in Ringer's solution (0.5 nmol microl(-1) min(-1) was infused through a microdialysis probe to detect the generation of *OH, as reflected by the non-enzymatic formation of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) in the striatum. MPP+ clearly produced an increase in *OH formation in a concentration-dependent manner. When imidaprilat was infused in MPP+ -pre-treated animals, the formation of dopamine and 2,3-DHBA significantly decreased, as compared with that in the MPP+ -only-treated group. We compared the ability of two non-SH-containing angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (imidaprilat and enalaprilat) with an SH-containing angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (captopril) to scavenge *OH. All three angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were able to scavenge *OH generated by the action of MPP+. However, the changes produced by captopril and enalaprilat were not significant. When dopamine was administered to the MPP+ -pre-treatment group, a marked elevation was observed, showing a positive linear correlation between dopamine and *OH formation (2,3-DHBA) in the dialysate. Moreover, when iron (II) was administered to the MPP+ -pre-treatment group, the same results were obtained: a positive linear correlation (R2 = 0.989) between the release of dopamine and 2,3-DHBA (R2 = 0.989) in the dialysate. When corresponding experiments were performed with imidaprilat-pre-treated animals, the level of 2,3-DHBA decreased. These results suggested that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may protect against MPP+ -induced *OH formation in the rat striatum.

An inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (enalapril) augments endotoxin-induced hypotension in the pig

Septic shock causes an extensive inflammatory reaction including increased capillary leakage and a decrease in systemic blood pressure. Human septic shock can be replicated in the endotoxaemic pig. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is involved in the degradation of bradykinin, an inflammatory mediator, and in the regulation of blood pressure. Inhibition of ACE is a common approach to reduce hypertension as well as left ventricular insufficiency. Fifteen anaesthetised pigs received a continuous 3 h endotoxin infusion. The animals were randomly given an inhibitor of ACE (enalpril) [at a dose (0.5 mg x kg-1) that did not per se reduce mean arterial blood pressure (MAP); (n = 7)], or the corresponding volume of saline (n = 8). Another seven pigs were randomised for treatment with enalapril (0.5 mg x kg-1) + saline (n = 3). Four pigs were randomised to serve as untreated controls (saline + saline). Basic physiologic variables were registered. Endotoxaemia progressively reduced MAP. This decrease was significantly augmented by enalapril. Hypovolemia caused by increased permeability or salt/water excretion did not seem to explain this effect as neither blood haemoglobin nor plasma sodium differed between the two groups of endotoxaemic pigs. Inhibitors of ACE are known to potentiate the cardio-depressant effect of bradykinin. This may explain the reduction in MAP by enalapril during porcine endotoxaemia.