Abstract
Endothelin is a recently discovered peptide produced by endothelial cells. It has been shown to have potent constrictor effects on major arteries in vitro and to raise rat blood pressure in vivo. The present experiments show that endothelin has a potent constrictor action on the microvasculature. Blood flow changes were measured by a xenon clearance technique in rabbit skin. Endothelin, when injected intradermally into rabbit skin, decreased local blood flow in a dose-dependent manner. Endothelin reduced basal skin blood flow and reversed the increased blood flow induced by a vasodilator. These results show that endothelin, administered extravascularly, has potent vasoconstrictor activity. This adds further support to the suggestion that endothelin may have an important role in the physiological control of blood flow and pressure.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Brain S. D., Tippins J. R., Morris H. R., MacIntyre I., Williams T. J. Potent vasodilator activity of calcitonin gene-related peptide in human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1986 Oct;87(4):533–536. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12455620. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brain S. D., Williams T. J., Tippins J. R., Morris H. R., MacIntyre I. Calcitonin gene-related peptide is a potent vasodilator. Nature. 1985 Jan 3;313(5997):54–56. doi: 10.1038/313054a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Furchgott R. F., Zawadzki J. V. The obligatory role of endothelial cells in the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by acetylcholine. Nature. 1980 Nov 27;288(5789):373–376. doi: 10.1038/288373a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Williams T. J. Proceedings:Simultaneous measurement of local plasma exudation and blood flow changes induced by intradermal injection of vasoactive substances, using [131I]albumen and 133Xe. J Physiol. 1976 Jan;254(1):4P–5P. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Williams T. J. Prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin I2 and the vascular changes of inflammation. Br J Pharmacol. 1979 Mar;65(3):517–524. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1979.tb07860.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yanagisawa M., Kurihara H., Kimura S., Tomobe Y., Kobayashi M., Mitsui Y., Yazaki Y., Goto K., Masaki T. A novel potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells. Nature. 1988 Mar 31;332(6163):411–415. doi: 10.1038/332411a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]