The action of bradykinin was studied in rat-1 fibroblasts stably expre
ssing alpha(1b)-adrenoceptors. It was observed that bradykinin and kal
lidin markedly increase cytosol calcium concentration, but that the B1
agonist, des-Arg(9)-bradykinin only mimicked this effect to a minimal
extent. Antagonists, selective for the B2 subtype, such as Hoe 140, b
locked this effect of bradykinin and kallidin. Similarly, bradykinin a
nd kallidin stimulated the production of inositol phosphates and B2 an
tagonists blocked their actions. The possibility that bradykinin could
modulate alpha(1b)-adrenoceptors was studied. It was observed that br
adykinin and kallidin increased alpha(1b)-adrenoceptor phosphorylation
and that such effect was also blocked by Hoe 140. Interestingly, the
ability of norepinephrine to increase intracellular calcium concentrat
ion was not altered by pretreatment of the cells with bradykinin, i.e.
bradykinin induced alb-adrenoceptor phosphorylation but this did not
lead to receptor desensitization. (C) 1998 Federation of European Bioc
hemical Societies.