Pl. Zhu et al., BRADYKININ IMPROVES POSTISCHEMIC RECOVERY IN THE RAT-HEART - ROLE OF HIGH-ENERGY PHOSPHATES, NITRIC-OXIDE, AND PROSTACYCLIN, Cardiovascular Research, 29(5), 1995, pp. 658-663
Objective: The aim was to define: (1) whether bradykinin administratio
n during reperfusion improves postischaemic myocardial recovery; (2) w
hether high energy phosphate compounds are involved in the protective
effects of bradykinin; and (3) whether bradykinin-induced release of p
rostacyclin and nitric oxide mediate the protective effects of bradyki
nin. Methods: In the Langendorff rat heart preparation, coronary flow,
left ventricular developed pressure, and, using P-31 magnetic resonan
ce spectroscopy, the high energy phosphate compounds phosphocreatine a
nd beta-ATP were assessed during 15 min of global ischaemia and 30 min
of reperfusion. Administration of 10(-7) M bradykinin was started bef
ore ischaemia and maintained throughout the experiment (BK-pre). This
was compared to 10(-7) M bradykinin given exclusively with reperfusion
(BK-post). Then 10(-7) M bradykinin was given simultaneously with 10(
-4) M N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (BK-LNAME) or 10(-5) M ind
omethacin (BK-indo). Results: In comparison to control hearts, BK-pre
exerted a significant protective effect on the postischaemic recovery
of coronary flow [71(5)% v 43(4)%, P < 0.05], left ventricular pressur
e [81(8)% v 42(5)%, P < 0.05], phosphocreatine [105(4)% v 67(8)%, P <
0.05], and beta-ATP [78(9)% v 48(7)%, P < 0.05]. With BK-post, recover
y of coronary flow [71(4)% v 43(4)%, P < 0.05] and left ventricular pr
essure [78(4)% v 42(5)%, P < 0.05] significantly improved; however the
recovery of phosphocreatine [70(4)% v 67(8)%, NS] and beta-ATP [58(2)
% v 48(7)%, NS] was not different from control. When bradykinin and L-
NAME or indomethacin was given the beneficial effects of bradykinin on
ischaemic hearts were abolished. Conclusions: (1) Bradykinin improved
postischaemic myocardial recovery when given before ischaemia or star
ting exclusively with reperfusion; (2) this was only partially related
to a protective action on the high energy phosphate compounds during
ischaemia; (3) the beneficial effects of bradykinin on ischaemic heart
s are dependent from an unrestrained action of prostacyclin and nitric
oxide.