This study investigates the effects of chronic methionine intake on bradykinin (BK)-relaxation. Vascular reactivity experiments
were performed on carotid rings from male Wistar rats. Treatment with methionine (0.1, 1 or 2 g kg
−1 per day) for 8 and 16 weeks, but not for 2 and 4 weeks, reduced the relaxation induced by BK. Indomethacin, a non-selective
cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, and SQ29548, a selective thromboxane A
2 (TXA
2)/prostaglandin H
2 (PGH
2) receptor antagonist prevented the reduction in BK-relaxation observed in the carotid from methionine-treated rats. Conversely,
AH6809, a selective prostaglandin F
2α (PGF
2α) receptor antagonist did not alter BK-relaxation in the carotid from methionine-treated rats. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS)
inhibitors L-NAME, L-NNA and 7-nitroindazole reduced the relaxation induced by BK in carotids from control and methionine-treated
rats. In summary, we found that chronic methionine intake impairs the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by BK and this
effect is due to an increased production of endothelial vasoconstrictor prostanoids (possibly TXA
2) that counteracts the relaxant action displayed by the peptide.
Keywords Methionine - Homocysteine - Bradykinin - Relaxation - Prostanoids