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The effect of bradykinin (BK) on the contraction of rat mesangial cells (MC) was compared with that of various vasoactive agents. BK induced a dose-dependent contraction [one-half maximal effective dose (ED50) = 50 nM] inhibited by the B2 antagonist, HOE-140 (ED50 = 10 nM). BK-induced MC contraction was independent of extracellular calcium and was reduced by inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC). Neomycin completely prevented the increase in intracellular calcium and the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate induced by BK but only reduced cell contraction. Inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) formation and administration of the endoperoxide antagonist SQ-27427 also partly decreased the effect of BK. Interestingly, only the addition of both neomycin and mepacrine resulted in a complete inhibition of cell contraction. These results suggest that BK, via a B2-kinin receptor, induces contraction of MC through two distinct mechanisms, one associated to the phospholipase C pathway and subsequent activation of PKC and the second one dependent on PG formation. These in vitro effects may be relevant in explaining the effects of BK and converting enzyme inhibitors on glomerular hemodynamics.

To extend our recent observations of the possible downregulation of glomerular B2-kinin-binding sites, we investigated density (Bmax) of bradykinin (BK)-binding sites in glomerular membranes of both the clipped (C) and nonclipped (NC) kidneys of two-kidney, one-clip (2K-1C) Goldblatt hypertensive rats, in relation to tissue kallikrein activity and glomerular three-dimensional structure. Compared with the Bmax of sham-operated (SO) kidney (31.8 +/- 7 fmol/mg protein), a significant increase in Bmax was observed in glomeruli of both kidneys in hypertensive rats, the Bmax being higher in glomeruli of NC than in C kidneys (98 +/- 11 vs. 59 +/- 12 fmol/mg protein). NC kidney compensatory hypertrophy was expressed by an increase in glomerular diameter, surface area, and volume. When expressed per unit of area or volume, Bmax in NC kidneys remained significantly higher than in both C and SO kidneys. Increased Bmax in both kidneys of 2K-1C rats was associated with a decreased intrarenal level of kallikrein. We also examined prostaglandin (PG) E2 release by isolated glomeruli from SO, C, and NC kidneys as a possible biological effect induced by BK. Whereas C kidney released more PGE2 than NC kidney under basal conditions, addition of BK (10 nM) induced greater PGE2 production in NC kidney consistent with the difference in Bmax between C and NC kidneys. These results suggest a possible downregulation of glomerular B2-binding sites by bradykinin, which may explain the difference between SO and C kidneys.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)