Bradykinin antagonists HOE-140 and CP-0597 diminish microcirculatory injury after ischaemia-reperfusion of the pancreas in rats.

Ischaemia-reperfusion of the pancreas was performed in 35 anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of two bradykinin antagonists, HOE-140 (13 micrograms kg-1 intravenous bolus injection, n = 7) and CP-0597 (18 micrograms kg-1 h-1 intravenous infusion, n = 7) on pancreatic microvascular perfusion and leucocyte-endothelium interaction were quantitatively analysed by intravital fluorescence microscopy. Three further groups underwent sham operation (n = 7), ischaemia of 2 h without treatment (n = 7), and ischaemia of 2 h with infusion of phosphate buffer (n = 7). Functional capillary density was significantly greater in animals treated with HOE-140 or CP-0597 than in sham-treated animals, and was decreased to only 60 per cent. Adherence of leucocytes to the endothelium of postcapillary venules was significantly reduced when compared with ischaemia without antagonist. These results demonstrate a positive effect of the two bradykinin antagonists HOE-140 and CP-0597 on microvascular perfusion failure after ischaemia-reperfusion of the pancreas.