Effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on tolerance of nitroglycerin.

The aim of this study was to assess whether the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors captopril and enalaprilat could change the tolerance of nitroglycerin in isolated rat aortae. In aortic rings precontracted with potassium chloride, captopril (1 microM) but not enalaprilat (0.1 microM) incubation potentiated the responses to nitroglycerin. It is suggested that captopril can reduce the tolerance of nitroglycerin because it is a sulfhydryl group donor.