Field-stimulus response of guinea-pig atria as influenced by the peptides angiotensin, bradykinin, and substance P.

Field stimulation produced in isolated guinea-pig left atria a positive inotropic response, which was highly sensitive to the inhibitory actions of lidocaine, tetrodotoxin, and of pindolol. The field-stimulus effect was enhanced by angiotensin and by bradykinin, but not by substance P. Only bradykinin exerted also a direct positive inotropic effect (in the absence of field stimulation). It is concluded that the intramural adrenergic neurons of the guinea-pig atrium have receptors for both angiotensin and bradykinin, but not for substance P.