Bradykinin antagonist counteracts the acute effect of both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and of angiotensin receptor blockade on the lower limit of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow.

The lower limit of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) can be modulated with both angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). The influence of bradykinin antagonism on ARB-induced changes was the subject of this study. CBF was measured in Sprague-Dawley rats with laser Doppler technique. The blood pressure was lowered by controlled bleeding. Six groups of rats were studied: a control group and five groups given drugs intravenously: an ACE inhibitor (enalaprilat), an ARB (candesartan), a bradykinin-2 receptor antagonist (Hoe 140), a combination of enalaprilat and Hoe 140, and a combination of candesartan and Hoe 140. In the control group, the lower limit of CBF autoregulation was 54±9 mm Hg (mean±s.d.), with enalaprilat it was 46±6, with candesartan 39±8, with Hoe 140 53±6, with enalaprilat/Hoe 140 52±6, and with candesartan/Hoe 140 50±7. Both enalaprilat and candesartan lowered the lower limit of autoregulation of CBF significantly. The bradykinin antagonist abolished not only the effect of the ACE inhibitor but surprisingly also the effect of the ARB on the lower limit of CBF autoregulation, the latter suggesting an effect on intravascular bradykinin.