The converting enzyme inhibitor captopril stimulates prostacyclin synthesis by isolated rat aorta.

In the present study, pretreatment of rats with captopril significantly stimulated prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis by their isolated aorta. This effect was maximal at captopril doses of 1.0 mumol/kg body weight. When added directly into the incubation buffer, captopril at final concentrations of 50 and 500 nM also increased the synthesis of PGI2 by isolated rat aorta. Our results show that captopril stimulates PGI2 synthesis in vascular tissue and that this effect may be due at least in part to a direct action of this substance.