Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in plasma and tissue

Abstract

Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in rat plasma and tissue was studied after administration of quinapril, a new orally active ACE inhibitor with an intermediate duration of action. Tissue and plasma ACE was assessed by a radioinhibitor-binding assay and by in vitro autoradiography using [125I]351A as the radioligand. Individual tissues in rats were differentially inhibited in time and degree. The highest ACE inhibition in plasma and in tissues occurred within the first 2 h after gavage treatment with quinapril, 0.3 mg/kg. After 24 h, ACE was still inhibited by 25% in plasma, by 30% in the aorta, by 35% in the kidneys, and by more than 40% in cardiac atria and ventricles. Plas..