Cardiovascular and vasoconstrictive actions of skate bradykinin in the little skate, Leucoraja erinacea (Elasmobranchii)

Abstract The vasoconstrictive and cardiovascular actions of a recently identified bradykinin (BK)-related peptide (Gly-Ile-Thr-Ser-Trp-Leu-Pro-Phe) from the little skate, Leucoraja erinacea were examined in the unanesthetised little skate. Intra-arterial administration of a skate BK (0.1–1 nmol kg −1 ) produced a hypertensive response with a rise in blood pressure reaching a maximum elevation of 28.7 ± 4.8% over baseline ( P n  = 8) that was sustained for at least 12 min following administration of a 1 and 0.3 nmol kg −1 dose of skate BK. Further, in vivo administration of 1 nmol kg −1 skate BK induced a significant delayed increase in stroke volume (reaching a maximum of 54.4 ± 14.7% above baseline) without significant effect on either cardiac output or heart rate. In vitro , skate BK constricted the 1st branchial, mesenteric (EC 50 2.7 × 10 −9  M) and coeliac (EC 50 3.1 × 10 −9  M) arterial preparations of the skate. In contrast, skate [Arg 9 ]BK, the mammalian B 1 receptor agonist des-[Arg 9 ]BK, and the mammalian B 2 receptor antagonist HOE-140 failed to induce vasoconstriction in these isolated arterial preparations. The vasoconstrictor actions of skate BK in the isolated mesenteric, coeliac and branchial arterial preparations were significantly inhibited when co-administrated with esculetin and phentolamine. Indomethacin also inhibited the vasoconstrictor actions of skate BK in the isolated branchial artery. We conclude that, as in mammals and teleost fish, multiple pathways involving at least the alpha adrenergic and leukotriene synthesis pathway are involved in mediating the vasoconstrictive actions of BK in vascular smooth muscle of the little skate.