The mechanism of action of two bradykinin-potentiating peptides on isolated smooth muscle.

Bradykinin-induced contractions in the guinea-pig ileum were potentiated by the peptides A-VI-5 (Val-Glu-Ser-Ser-Lys) and BPP5a (Pyr-Lys-Trp-Ala-Pro), while the contractions induced by other agonists were not affected. Neither peptide added alone caused any response. Previous addition of the peptides shortened the latent period following the addition of bradykinin to a value corresponding to the contraction height with an equivalent dose of bradykinin added alone. Bradykinin in contact with a piece of ileum was inactivated at a relatively slow rate. This inactivation was not inhibited by either A-VI-5 or BPP5a in doses causing potentiation. Suppression of the cholinergic activity by cooling, atropine, morphine or tetrodotoxin did not influence the potentiating activity. Addition of the peptides at the moment a submaximal contraction due to bradykinin had been fully established, increased the contraction height within seconds. The two peptides caused a parallel shift to the left of the dose-effect curve of bradykinin, whereas the maximum bradykinin effect remained unchanged. It is concluded that sensitization of bradykinin receptors due to an increased affinity of the receptor for bradykinin is the hypothesis which best fits the experimental findings.