Converting enzyme inhibition in isolated porcine resistance artery potentiates bradykinin relaxation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of converting enzyme inhibition on the contractile reactivity of porcine femoral and intramuscular resistance arteries. The arteries were dissected free of hind limb skeletal muscle from anaesthetized pigs (Micro-pig Yucatan, Charles River), and were mounted in organ chambers and in a myograph system for tension recording. Bradykinin induced an endothelium-dependent relaxation in both vessels which was potentiated by S 10211, a converting enzyme inhibitor, only in resistance arteries. Under basal conditions angiotensin II and angiotensin I did not contract resistance arteries although contraction could be obtained with other agents such as KCl, noradrenaline or vasopressin. If the tone was increased with noradrenaline, angiotensin II and angiotensin I produced an increase in tension. S 10211 inhibited the increase in tension induced by angiotensin I but not by angiotensin II in vessels with and without endothelium. These results suggest that (1) converting enzyme is present in the vascular wall of porcine resistance arteries, (2) this enzyme is not necessarily located on the endothelial cells and, (3) converting enzyme could influence the responsiveness to angiotensin I and bradykinin.