title: Endothelin potently constricts rat airways in vivo.
abstract: We investigated the effects of aerosolized endothelin (ET) on pulmonary mechanics of anesthetized spontaneously breathing rats. ET inhalation caused a concentration-dependent increase in pulmonary resistance (RL). In control condition RL was 0.17 +/- 0.04 cmH2O/ml/s (mean +/- SE; n = 6) and increased to 1.45 +/- 0.28 cmH2O/ml/s (p less than 0.05) after ET 4 x 10(-5) M. The pulmonary responses to ET lasted up to 60 minutes. These results suggest a role for endothelin in the regulation of airway smooth muscle tone.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: G U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Di Maria
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Malatino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellofiore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mistretta
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins