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1. Bradykinin promotes neuronal damage and brain edema through the activation of the B(2) receptor. The neuroprotective effect of LF 16-0687 Ms, a B(2) receptor antagonist, has been described when given prior to induction of transient focal cerebral ischemia in rat, but there are no data regarding the consequence of a treatment when given after injury. Therefore, in a murine model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), we evaluated the effect of LF 16-0687 Ms given prior to and/or after the onset of ischemia on neurological deficit, infarct volume and inflammatory responses including cerebral edema, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and neutrophil accumulation. 2. LF 16-0687 Ms (1, 2 and 4 mg kg(-1)) administered 0.5 h before and, 1.25 and 6 h after MCAO, decreased the infarct volume by a maximum of 33% and significantly improved the neurological recovery. 3. When given at 0.25 and 6.25 h after MCAO, LF 16-0687 Ms (1.5, 3 and 6 mg kg(-1)) decreased the infarct volume by a maximum of 25% and improved the neurological score. 4. Post-treatment with LF 16-0687 Ms (1.5 mg kg(-1)) significantly decreased brain edema (-28%), BBB disruption (-60%) and neutrophil accumulation (-65%) induced by ischemia. Physiological parameters were not modified by LF 16-0687 Ms. 5. These data emphasize the role of bradykinin B(2) receptor in the development of infarct lesion, neurological deficit and inflammatory responses resulting from transient focal cerebral ischemia. Therefore, B(2) receptor antagonist might represent a new therapeutic approach in the pharmacological treatment of stroke.

In the present study, pharmacological properties of a bradykinin B(2) receptor amplified either from guinea-pig ileum or lung and homologous to the previously reported sequence except two amino-acid changes L(124)-->P and N(227)-->Y in the receptor protein were characterized. Tritiated bradykinin ([(3)H]-BK) specifically bound to the cloned guinea-pig B(2) bradykinin receptor stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) with a K(D) value of 0.29+/-0.07 nM. In competition experiments, bradykinin (BK) affinity constant value was 0.21+/-0.05 nM while the two specific kinin B(1) ligands, des-Arg(9)-bradykinin (DBK) and des-Arg(9)-Leu(8)-bradykinin (DLBK) were unable to compete with [(3)H]-BK. As the specific peptide antagonist D-Arg-[Hyp(3),Thi(5),D-Tic(7),Oic(8)]-bradykinin (HOE140), (E)-3-(6-acetamido-3-pyridil)-N-[-N-[2,4-dichloro-3-[(2-methyl-8-quinolinyl)oxymethyl]phenyl]-N-methylaminocarbonylmethyl]acrylamide (FR173657) and 1-[[3-[2,4-dimethylquinolin-8-yl)oxymethyl] - 2,4 - dichloro - phenyl]sulfonyl] - 2(S) - [[4-[4-(aminoiminomethyl)-phenylcarbonyl]piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl]pyrrolidine (LF16-0335C) exhibited a high affinity for this receptor with K(i) values of 7.34+/-2.45 nM and 8.54+/-1.55 nM respectively. BK and kallidin (KD) increased inositol phosphates (IPs) levels with EC(50) values of 0.44+/-0.12 nM and 6.88+/-0.28 nM, respectively. Neither DLBK nor DBK (0.01 nM to 10 microM) stimulated or inhibited IPs turnover and as expected HOE140 did not raise IPs production. HOE140 (0.1 microM) and LF 16-0335c (1 microM) right shifted the BK response curve with pK(B) values of 9.2+/-0.4 and 8.4+/-0.3, respectively. The results indicate that this cloned guinea-pig receptor displayed typical pharmacological properties of a bradykinin B(2) receptor and support the existence of a single B(2) receptor in this species.

1. The present study addresses the differences in binding profiles and functional properties of the human and rat bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor using various kinin receptor peptide derivatives as well as the non-peptide receptor antagonists WIN 64338 (phosphonium, [[4-[[2-[[bis(cyclohexylamino)methylene]amino]-3-(2-naphtalenyl)1- oxopropyl]amino]-phenyl]-methyl]tributyl, chloride, monohydro-chloride), and FR173657 (E)-3-(6-acetamido-3-pyridyl)-N-[-N-[2,4-dichloro-3-[(2-methyl-8-quinoli nyl)oxymethyl]-phenyl]N-methylamino carbonyl methyl] acrylamide. 2. [3H]-BK bound with a similar affinity to membranes of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) expressing the cloned human (hB2-CHO) or rat (rB2-CHO) B2 receptor, human embryonic intestine cells (INT407) expressing the native B2 receptor, human umbilical vein (HUV) and rat uterus (RU). WIN 64338 and FR173657 bound with a 3.8-6.6 fold and 7.0-16.3 fold higher affinity the rat than the human B2 receptor, respectively. The affinity values of BK derivatives as well as non-peptide antagonists were reduced by 6-23 fold in physiological HBSS compared to low ionic strength TES binding buffer. 3. BK (0.01-3000 nM) increased inositol triphosphates (IP3) levels in hB2-CHO, rB2-CHO and INT407 cells. The B2 receptor antagonist, Hoe 140 (D-Arg0-[ Hyp3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]-BK) at 10(-7) M, significantly shifted to the right the IP3 response curves to BK giving apparent pKB values of 8.56, 9.79 and 8.84 for hB2-CHO, rB2-CHO and INT407 cells, respectively. 4. In human isolated umbilical vein, Hoe 140, D-Arg0-[Hyp3, D-Phe7, Leu8]-BK and NPC 567 had a lower potency in functional assays (pKB 8.18, 5.77 and 5.60, respectively) than expected from their affinity in binding studies (pKi 10.52, 8.64 and 8.27, respectively). 5. FR173657 behaved as a high affinity ligand with pKi values of 8.59 and 9.81 and potent competitive antagonist with pKB values of 7.80 and 8.17 in HUV and RU, respectively. FR173657 bound with a similar affinity the cloned and native bradykinin B2 receptor in human (pKi of 8.66 and 8.59, respectively) and in rat (pKi 9.67 and 9.81, respectively). 6. In conclusion, we suggest that the binding buffer composition has to be taken into account when screening new compounds and that inter-species differences should be considered when setting up animal models with the aim of developing bradykinin B2 receptor antagonists as therapeutic agents.

1. In the present paper, we describe the in vitro pharmacological properties of LF 16.0335 (1-[[3-[(2,4-dimethylquinolin-8-yl)oxymethyl]-2,4-dichloro-p henyl]sulphonyl] -2(S) - [[4 -[4-(aminoiminomethyl)phenylcarbonyl]piperazin-1-yl]ca rbonyl]pyrrolidine), a novel and potent nonpeptide antagonist of the human bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor. 2. LF 16.0335 displaced [3H]-BK binding to membrane preparations from CHO cells expressing the cloned human B2 receptor, INT 407 cells and human umbilical vein with Ki values of 0.84+/-0.39 nM, 1.26+/-0.68 nM and 2.34+/-0.36 nM, respectively. 3. In saturation binding studies performed in INT 407 cell membranes in the presence or absence of LF 16.0335, max values of [3H]-BK were not significantly changed suggesting that LF 16.0335 behaves as a competitive antagonist. 4. LF 16.0335 had no affinity for the cloned human kinin B1 receptor stably expressed in 293 cells. In addition, this compound at 1 microM did not significantly bind to a range of 40 different membrane receptors and eight ion channels except muscarinic M2 and M1 receptors for which an IC50 value of 0.9 and 1 microM was obtained. 5. BK stimulates in a concentration-dependent manner phosphoinositosides (IPs) production in cultured INT 407 cells. Concentration-response-curves to BK were shifted to the right in the presence of LF 16.0335 (0.1 microM) without reduction of the maximum. LF 16.0335 inhibited the concentration-contraction curve to BK in the human umbilical vein giving a pA2 value of 8.30+/-0.30 with a Schild plot slope that was not different from unity. 6. These results demonstrate that LF 16.0335 is a potent, selective and competitive antagonist of the human bradykinin B2 receptor.

1. We compared the binding properties of [3H]-desArg10-[Leu9]-kallidin, a radiolabelled kinin B1 receptor antagonist, to membranes from IMR-90 human embryonic fibroblasts and from 293 cells transiently or stably transfected with the human B1 receptor. 2. The dissociation constant (KD) of [3H]-desArg10-[Leu9]-kallidin and the affinity of several kinin receptor agonists and antagonists were similar between the native and cloned receptor, either transiently or stably expressed in 293 cells. In IMR-90 cells, the rank order of potency was that expected for a kinin B1 receptor. 3. The receptors transiently or stably expressed in 293 cells were fully functional with respect to their signalling properties. Phosphoinositide hydrolysis was increased in a concentration-dependent manner by the B1 receptor agonist, desArg10-kallidin. Functional coupling to the calcium pathway was also demonstrated for the native and stably expressed human B1 receptor. 4. In conclusion, the established stable and functional 293 cell clone may provide an important tool for further analysis of the molecular mechanisms involved in binding, activation, and coupling of the kinin B1 receptor.

1. Mongrel dogs were chronically instrumented with an intra-aortic catheter, a Königsberg intraventricular pressure transducer and a Döppler flow probe around the left coronary artery. After ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium, the cardiovascular effects of bradykinin B1 and B2 receptor agonists, des-Arg9-bradykinin and bradykinin (BK), were investigated in the presence and absence of specific antagonists. The contribution of nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids to the cardiovascular effects of kinins was also examined. 2. BK (1 microgram kg-1 min-1) and des-Arg9-BK (1 microgram kg-1 min-1) both given as a 2 min i.v. infusion, produced a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP, -34 +/- 4% for BK and -45 +/- 2% for des-Arg9-BK) and coronary vascular resistance (CVR, -37 +/- 5% for BK and -50 +/- 2% for des-Arg9-BK), without affecting cardiac contractility, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and coronary velocity. BK caused a significantly greater decrease in MAP and CVR than des-Arg9-BK (P < 0.05). 3. Pretreatment with the B1 receptor antagonist, des-Arg9-[Leu8]-BK (25 micrograms kg-1) significantly inhibited the decrease in MAP and CVR produced by des-Arg9-BK but not by BK. Infusion of des-Arg9-[Leu8]-BK alone also induced a significant decrease in MAP and CVR (P < 0.05). In the presence of the B2 receptor antagonist, Hoe 140 (25 micrograms kg-1), only the decreases in MAP and CVR caused by BK were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). 4. Inhibition of NO synthase with N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG, 45 mg kg-1) significantly (P < 0.05) prevented the decrease in CVR but not MAP induced by des-Arg9-BK, whilst responses to BK were not affected by L-NOARG pretreatment. Inhibition of prostanoid synthesis with indomethacin (25 mg kg-1) did not affect the reductions in MAP and CVR induced by des-Arg9-BK or BK. 5. In conclusion, i.v. des-Arg9-BK and BK administration induced reductions in MAP and CVR suggesting that in conscious instrumented dogs both B1 and B2 receptors are present and can affect systemic blood pressure and coronary resistance regulation. Our results also suggest that prostanoids are not involved in the vascular response to kinins and that coronary vascular B1 receptors are at least in part coupled to the release of NO.

1. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor-mediated contraction of endothelium denuded rabbit middle (MCA) and posterior (PCA) cerebral arteries was characterized by use of selective agonists and antagonists for different 5-HT receptor subtypes. 2. 5-HT and various 5-HT receptor agonists contracted the arteries with the following rank order of potency in MCA: 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) > 5-HT > 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeOT) > sumatriptan > alpha-methyl-5-HT (alpha-Me-5-HT) >> 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and in PCA: 5-CT > 5-HT > sumatriptan > 5-MeOT > alpha-Me-5-HT >> 8-OH-DPAT. With few exceptions, the maximal contractile responses of these agonists were similar to that induced by 5-HT. 3. The selective antagonists of 5-HT2A/2C (ketanserin), 5-HT4 (SDZ 205-557) and 5-HT1A/1B (S-(-)-propranolol) sites were devoid of inhibitory effect on 5-HT-mediated contraction in both MCA and PCA, thus excluding activation of the corresponding receptors. 4. In both arteries, the contraction-response curve to 5-HT was unaffected by the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ICS 205-930 (0.01 and 0.1 microM) whilst a small (3 and 6 fold displacement) was seen with MDL 72222 (0.1 and 1 microM). 5. The mixed 5-HT1-like/5-HT2A receptor antagonist, methiothepin (0.001-0.1 microM), was a potent antagonist of 5-HT-induced contractions in both arteries, giving pA2 values of 9.4 +/- 0.7 and 9.6 +/- 0.8 in MCA and PCA, respectively. 6. Rauwolscine (O.1-10 MicroM) and yohimbine (0.3, 3 MicroM) inhibited contractions to 5-HT in a competitive manner, pA2 values of 7.1 +/- 0.6 and 6.7 +/-0.6 were determined for rauwolscine in MCA and PCA,respectively. An apparent pA2 value of 6.9 +/-0.2 was calculated for yohimbine (3 MicroM) in both MCA and PCA.7. In conclusion, these results suggest that the contractile response to 5-HT in rabbit isolated MCA and PCA is predominantly mediated by the 5-HTID receptor subtype, although a small contribution by 5-HT3 receptors cannot be excluded.

1. We have investigated the effects of the N-type calcium channel blocker, omega-conotoxin GVIA, on contractile responses to nerve stimulation, noradrenaline and KCl in rat small mesenteric arteries. In separate experiments, single and summated excitatory junctional potentials (e.j.ps) evoked by nerve stimulation were recorded with an intracellular electrode in the absence and presence of omega-conotoxin. 2. Electrical field stimulation of intramural sympathetic nerves (30 V; 0.25 ms pulse width; 3 s train length; 4-24 Hz) caused frequency-dependent contractions. Cumulative concentration-response curves for the contractions induced by noradrenaline and KCl were constructed in the same preparations. Stimulation at 0.2 Hz and 10 Hz induced respectively single e.j.ps without contractions and summated e.j.ps associated with a contractile response. 3. omega-Conotoxin (0.1 to 3 nM) inhibited markedly and in a concentration-dependent manner both the contractions and e.j.ps to electrical field stimulation. The concentration-response curves to exogenous noradrenaline and KCl remained unaffected. 4. The time-course for the effects of omega-conotoxin (0.3 to 3 nM) indicated a slow onset of action with at least one hour to achieve an equilibrium. 5. The experiments indicate that omega-conotoxin acts prejunctionally to inhibit sympathetic neurotransmission in rat small arteries presumably by inhibition of noradrenaline release. We suggest that omega-conotoxin could be a useful tool to study the control of vascular tone through the autonomic nervous system.