KALLIKREIN-KININ SYSTEM DURING THE COLD PRESSOR TEST IN CIRRHOTIC RATS

The plasma levels of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity (BK-LI), high mo lecular weight kininogen, and prekallikrein, major components of the k allikrein-kinin system, were examined in adult male Wistar rats with d imethylnitrosamine-induced cirrhosis. In addition, the cold pressor te st was used to investigate the effect of pain on the plasma BK-LI leve l. After exposure to cold (4-degrees-C for 15 min), the plasma BK-LI l evel rose strikingly in healthy control rats. However, the cirrhotic r ats showed lower plasma BK-LI, high molecular weight kininogen, and pr ekallikrein levels than the controls both before and after the cold pr essor test, and the BK-LI level remained below the detection limit dur ing the test. These results indicate that the responsiveness of the ka llikrein-kinin system is impaired in cirrhosis and that the cold press or test is useful for the evaluation of bradykinin responses.