EN
Increased generation of reactive oxygen species contribute to endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis, hypertension and heart failure. Recently, it was suggested that bursts of superoxide anions may inactivate endothelial surface-bound enzymes such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Here, we tested effects of xanthine/xanthine oxidase-derived superoxide anions on vascular responses and ACE activity in the isolated guinea pig heart. We analysed effects of intracoronary infusion of low concentration of xanthine oxidase (10 mU/ml) in the presence of xanthine (0,5 mM) (X/XO) on bradykinin, other endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilators (acetylcholine, ADP, SNAP), as well as vasoconstrictor responses to angiotensin I and angiotensin II. Surprisingly, X/XO significantly augmented coronary response to bradykinin without an effect on responses to ADP, acetylcholine, SNAP, angiotensin I and angiotensin II. In contrast, inhibition of ACE by perindoprilate (100 nM) resulted in augmentation of bradykinin-induced vasodilatation as well as diminution of angiotensin I-evoked vasoconstriction without an influence on other responses. In summary, in the isolated guinea pig heart, X/XO-derived free radicals selectively augmented coronary vasodilator response to bradykinin, which cannot be explained by X/XO- induced derangement of ACE. The mechanism of this paradoxical phenomenon, which might represent a defensive response of the coronary circulation to oxidative stress requires further investigations.