Role of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in regulation of vascular tone and remodeling. Update on humoral regulation of vascular tone.

Role of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in regulation of vascular tone and remodeling. Update on humoral regulation of vascular tone.

In addition to preserving the permselectivity of the vascular wall and providing an antithrombogenic surface, the vascular endothelium contributes importantly to the regulation of vasomotor tone. Indeed, the endothelium participates in the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II; the enzymatic inactivation of several plasma constituents such as bradykinin, norepinephrine, serotonin, and A...

Regulation of cerebral blood vessels by humoral and endothelium-dependent mechanisms. Update on humoral regulation of vascular tone.

Recent studies suggest that humoral and endothelium-dependent mechanisms may play an important role in the cerebral circulation. Angiotensin may acutely and chronically increase resistance of large cerebral arteries and reduce cerebral microvascular pressure without changing cerebral blood flow. We hypothesize that the brain may sense reductions in microvascular pressure and initiate compensato...

Regulation of vascular tone and remodeling of the ductus arteriosus.

The ductus arteriosus (DA), a fetal arterial connection between the main pulmonary artery and the descending aorta, normally closes immediately after birth. The DA is a normal and essential fetal structure. However, it becomes abnormal if it remains patent after birth. Closure of the DA occurs in two phases: functional closure of the lumen within the first hours after birth by smooth muscle con...

Endothelium-derived vascular relaxing factor.

A large number and variety of compounds (acetylcholine, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, arachidonic acid, bradykinin, Ca2+ ionophores, calcitonin gene-related peptide, histamine, hydralazine, substance P, thrombin, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) have been shown to relax arterial smooth muscle indirectly. The endothelium in muscular arteries from several species appears to...

Endothelial regulation of vascular tone.