Effects of captopril and bradykinin on chorda tympani-induced salivation in cat.

The effects of captopril and bradykinin on chorda tympani-induced salivation were studied in the submandibular gland of anesthetized cat. Captopril and bradykinin, but not des-Arg9-bradykinin, increased salivation evoked by electrical stimulation of chorda tympani. These potentiated effects of captopril and bradykinin were suppressed by Hoe-140, a kinin B2 receptor antagonist, or by concomitant addition of N(G)-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and aspirin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. It appears that captopril potentiates chorda tympani-induced salivation through endogenously accumulated bradykinin, which acts on kinin B2 receptors, mediating production of nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase products.