Contribution of NO and cytochrome P450 to the vasodilator effect of bradykinin in the rat kidney.

1. Inhibition of nitric oxide generation with Nw-nitro-L-arginine (nitroarginine) reduced vasodilator responses to bradykinin and acetylcholine and enhanced those to nitroprusside in the rat isolated perfused kidney, preconstricted with phenylephrine. 2. Inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase with indomethacin, decreased the vasodilator responses to bradykinin by approximately 25% without affecting those to acetylcholine or nitroprusside. 3. BW755c, a dual inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase, reduced renal vasodilator responses to bradykinin, comparable to the effect of indomethacin suggesting an effect related to inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase rather than lipoxygenase. 4. ETYA, an inhibitor of all arachidonic acid metabolic pathways, markedly reduced vasodilator responses to bradykinin but was without effect on the renal vasodilatation induced by acetylcholine or nitroprusside. 5. Clotrimazole and 7-ethoxyresorufin, inhibitors of cytochrome P450, greatly attenuated vasodilator responses to bradykinin without affecting those to acetylcholine or nitroprusside. 6. These data suggest that the renal vasodilator response to bradykinin is subserved by arachidonic acid metabolites as well as nitric oxide, the former accounting for up to 70% of the vasodilator effect of bradykinin.