A comparison of bradykinin‐ and capsaicin‐induced myocardial and coronary effects in isolated perfused heart of guinea‐pig: involvement of substance P and calcitonin gene‐related peptide release

• Published in: British journal of pharmacology Vol. 97; no. 2; pp. 303 - 312
• Main Authors: Manzini, Stefano, Perretti, Francesca, Benedetti, Laura, Pradelles, Philippe, Maggi, Carlo Alberto, Geppetti, Pierangelo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.1989; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bradykinin - pharmacology; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Capsaicin - pharmacology; Coronary Circulation - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Guinea Pigs; Heart; Heart - drug effects; Heart Rate - drug effects; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Myocardial Contraction - drug effects; Neuropeptides - metabolism; Radioimmunoassay; Substance P - metabolism; Time Factors; Vasodilator Agents - metabolism; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system; Heart; Hormone; Capsaicin; Substance P; Rodentia; Calcitonine gene related peptide; Muscle contraction; In vitro; Neuropeptide; Biological activity; Dose activity relation; Heart rate; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Guinea pig; Animal; Bradykinin; Plant origin; Hemodynamics; Release
• ISSN: 0007-1188; 1476-5381
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1989.tb11955.x

1 Bradykinin and capsaicin were compared for their ability to elicit functional effects and to release sensory neuropeptides from guinea‐pig isolated perfused hearts. 2 Both bradykinin (10 μm) and capsaicin (1 μm) produced a marked increase in coronary flow, a large positive chronotropic effect and a significant reduction in contractile strength. These actions were associated with a marked release of substance P‐like immunoreactivity (SP‐LI) and calcitonin gene‐related‐like immunoreactivity (CGRP‐LI). The percentage of the tissue content of SP‐LI and CGRP‐LI released by each agent was similar, although bradykinin was less effective than capsaicin. The ratio of SP‐LI/CGRP‐LI released by both agents was similar to that present in cardiac tissue. 3 Neuropeptide release could be evoked only once with capsaicin but at least four times with bradykinin. Also, functional responses to capsaicin underwent desensitization. After either in vitro or systemic capsaicin pretreatment, the release of SP‐LI and CGRP‐LI by bradykinin was reduced and the positive chronotropic effect of bradykinin was significantly reduced, while the increase in coronary flow and negative inotropic responses remained unchanged. 4 Pretreatment with indomethacin (10 μm) strongly antagonized the release of SP‐LI and CGRP‐LI by bradykinin and reduced the increase in heart rate. 5 These findings suggest that activation by bradykinin (probably through indirect mechanisms) of capsaicin‐sensitive sensory nerves in the heart, leads to a local release of sensory neuropeptides. These neuropeptides, in turn, could participate in determining the complex functional effects of this kinin on cardiac performance.