Effects of bradykinin on lymphatic pumping in the rat mesentery. Yokoyama, Shin, and Joseph N. Benoit. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71130 and Department of Physiology, University of South Alabama, College of Medicine, Mobile, Alabama 36688
APStracts 2:0221G, 1995.
The effects of bradykinin on lymphatic pump activity of rat mesenteric collecting duct were studied and the receptor subtype responsible for the bradykinin response evaluated. Rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal (-chloralose and urethane, and exteriorized mesenteries were studied using intravital microscopic techniques. The diameter of the collecting lymph vessels (approximately 100 m) were continuously monitored and lymphatic pump parameters (end diastolic diameter, end systolic diameter, stroke volume index, ejection fraction, contraction frequency, and pump flow index) were calculated. Bradykinin (0.1 nM - 1.0 nM) did not affect end diastolic diameter, end systolic diameter, stroke volume index, and ejection fraction. Bradykinin increased lymphatic contraction frequency and pump flow index in a dose-dependent manner. [Leu8]-desArg9-bradykinin (B1 antagonist, 0.1 M) had no effect on baseline lymphatic pumping but completely inhibited the bradykinin-induced increase in contraction frequency. N-acetyl-D-Arg-[Hyp3,Thi5,8,D-Phe7]-bradykinin (B2 antagonist, 0.1 M) significantly depressed lymphatic contraction frequency in baseline conditions but had no effect on bradykinin -induced increases in contraction frequency. These results indicate that bradykinin induces positive chronotropic but not inotropic effects on lymphatic pump activity through the stimulation of B1 -receptors.

Received 22 May 1995; accepted in final form 16 October 1995.
APS Manuscript Number G218-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 6 November 95