Effects of bradykinin and Des-Arg9-bradykinin on the ischemic rat heart.

In isolated rat hearts subjected to 30 min stop flow followed by 5 min reperfusion, Bradykinin (Bk), 1 and 0.1 microM, significantly decreased ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, noradrenaline (NA) output at reperfusion as well as myocardial NA loss and lipid peroxidation, and preserved creatine kinase activity. Des-Arg9-Bk 0.1 microM had also similar effects. Hence, the active metabolite des-Arg9-Bk may be involved in the protective action of Bk, partly mediated by its inhibitory effect on NA liberation.