Abstract
Incubation of plasma from the alligator (Alligator mississipiensis) with glass beads in the presence of a kininase inhibitor resulted in the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and generation of bradykinin-like immunoreactivity. The kinin peptides were purified to homogeneity and were shown to comprise [Thr6]-bradykinin and des-Arg9[Thr6]bradykinin in the molar ratio of ~10:1. Bolus injections of synthetic [Thr6]bradykinin into the jugular vein of the anesthetized alligator resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in mean arterial blood pressure. The minimum dose of kinin producing a significant fall in pressure was 0.07 μg/kg body wt and the maximum response (25 ± 6% fall; mean ± SD, n = 8) was produced by a dose of 0.56 μg/kg body wt. The dose producing a half-maximum response was 0.19 ± 0.08 μg/kg. The data indicate that alligator plasma contains all the components of the kallikrein-kinin system found in mammals and suggest that the system may be of physiological importance in the regulation of cardiovascular function in these reptiles.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | R400-R404 |
Journal | American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology |
Volume | 263 |
Issue number | 2 32-2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 1992 |
Keywords
- crocodilian
- high-performance liquid chromatography
- kallikrein
- kininogen
- turtle
- vasodilator activity
- [Thr]bradykinin