The effect of salt intake on the hypertensive response to long-term infusion of endothelin-1 was investigated. Chronically instrumented male Sprague-Dawley rats (325-375 g) were used in a 15-day protocol that included 3 control days followed by 7 days of endothelin-1 infusion at 5.0 pmol.kg-1.min-1 and 5 days of recovery. Rats were maintained on either a normal sodium chloride intake (2.0 meq N...

S ince its discovery in 1988 [1], the role of endothelin in cardiovascular disease has been intensively studied. Activation of the endothelin system is considered part of the neurohormonal response in congestive heart failure. Endothelin is produced by vascular endothelial cells and has potent vasoconstrictor effects [2]. Elevated endothelin levels induce adverse cardiac remodelling and cause p...

Many vertebrate cells are resistant to apoptotic stimuli, whose variety and the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Endothelin-1 is an endothelium-derived vasoactive peptide that mediates many physiological functions, such as vasoconstriction and cell proliferation. Deregulated expression of c-Myc induces apoptosis in serum-deprived fibroblasts. Using a panel of isogenic fibroblast ce...

The aim of our study was to investigate mechanism of action of endothelins 1, 2 and 3 on spontaneous activity, tone and intraluminal pressure of human ureter. Both longitudinal tension and intraluminal pressure were recorded from the isolated segments of proximal human ureter. Endothelins 1, 2 and 3 (5.35x10(-11) M - 5.05x10(-8) M) produced concentration-dependent tonic contraction and sustaine...

We examined the inhibitory effect of porcine C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on endothelin-1 secretion stimulated by thrombin and angiotensin II (Ang II) in cultured porcine endothelial cells. The results were compared with the effects of atrial (ANP) and brain (BNP) natriuretic peptides. Thrombin and Ang II produced a concentration-dependent stimulation of immunoreactive endothelin-1 secretio...

Endothelins are peptides, originally isolated from endothelial cells, with potent vasoactive and mitogenic properties. In this study, we demonstrate that human macrophages synthesize and secrete endothelins. Cultured human macrophages were found by immunocytochemistry to stain positively for endothelin 1 and endothelin 3. Their capability to produce and release these peptides was confirmed by a...

We investigated the short-term effects of a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor (Olprinone) on hemodynamics and thoracic duct lymph flow in anesthetized open-chest sheep with heart failure induced by endothelin-1 (cardiogenic shock). Ultrasound transit-time flow probes were attached to the thoracic duct, the ascending aorta and the renal artery. Arterial, pulmonary and central venous pressures were...