[Mechanism of action of cyclokinins].

Cyclic analogs of bradykinin (CBK) and kallidin (CK) have a weak myotropic activity and a marked and prolonged hypotensive effect unlike linear bradykinin (BK) and kallidin (K) which produce a short-term hypotension and considerable contraction of rat uterus smooth muscles. Myotropic effects of BK and CK were significantly inhibited by phentolamine, methysergide, papaverine and verapamil. Atropine, diphenhydramine and propranolol have no influence on the kinin-induced myotropic responses. The prolonged decrease in blood pressure induced by CBK and CK is observed in un- and anesthetized normotensive, spontaneously hypertensive rats and rats with renovascular hypertension and is absent from anesthetized cats and guinea-pigs. This indicates the species specificity of cyclokinins. Indomethacin, diphenhydramine and methysergide failed to influence the BK- and CK-induced hypotensive effects on anesthetized rats. CaCl2 did not influence the magnitude of the hypotensive effect of BK and CK, however, it significantly shortened the duration of the CK-induced hypotensive effect. In vitro CBK and CK inhibited activity of kininase II in a similar manner (at a concentration range of 10(-5) M) but to a less extent than BK (10(-7)-10(-6) M). It is suggested that the hypotensive effect of CK is mediated at least partly via Ca2+-dependent systems and inhibition of kininase II.