Kinins — Possible Physiologic and Pathologic Roles in Man

Physiologic and Pharmacologic PropertiesKinins were studied and characterized in terms of their physiologic and pharmacologic properties long before their chemical nature was known. Their potent effects on smooth muscles were the first properties to be studied, and, indeed, the name "bradykinin" was applied because of the slow contraction produced in the smooth muscle of the isolated guinea-pig ileum. In spite of certain quantitative differences, the physiologic effects of the various kinins are qualitatively similar and are discussed together in this section.Effects on Isolated Smooth-Muscle PreparationsBradykinin in minute amounts (0.1 mμg per milliliter) causes contraction of the isolated . . .