Attenuation of arterial blood pressure fall in endotoxin shock in the rat using the competitive bradykinin antagonist Lys-Lys-[Hyp2, Thi5,8, DPhe7]-Bk (B4148).

The selective competitive bradykinin (Bk) antagonist, B4148 (Lys-Lys-[Hyp2, Thi5,8, DPhe7]-Bk) infused at 100 micrograms kg-1 min-1 into rats produced a significant inhibition of the hypotensive effect of Bk and had no effect against acetylcholine-induced responses. In a rat model of endotoxin shock, the fall in mean arterial blood pressure in response to an intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide from E. coli was significantly attenuated by the same infusion of B4148 compared to controls. These findings suggest that kinins are involved in the hypotensive response to endotoxin shock in rats. The development of potent Bk antagonists offers a new experimental approach for evaluating the role of kinins in this and other disease states and potential therapy in such disorders.