Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors MK 421, SA 446 and captopril on renal prostaglandin E and kinins in conscious normotensive rats.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition by MK 421, SA 446 or captopril (6 mg/kg/day ip) for up to 6 days induced significant fall in systolic blood pressure and plasma angiotensin II concentration. The hypotensive effect was greater in sodium depleted rats than in sodium repleted rats. The hypotensive effect was also accompanied by increased excretion of urinary prostaglandin E2, however the levels of urinary prostaglandin E2 in sodium repleted rats were not different from those in sodium depleted rats. Urinary kinin excretion was increased during infusion of MK 421, SA 446 or captopril in sodium depleted rats, whereas no significant change was found in sodium repleted rats. Thus the present results suggest that renal prostaglandin E system may not be essential for the hypotensive effect of these inhibitors. In addition, the greater hypotensive effect of these inhibitors in sodium depleted rats may be in part due to stimulated renal kinin system.