title: Endothelium-dependent relaxations in human arteries.
abstract: Experiments were designed to study endothelium-dependent relaxations in human renal arteries (N = 13) and peripheral arteries (N = 8) suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. In contracted arterial rings, acetylcholine caused endothelium-dependent relaxations that were not inhibited by indomethacin in either artery but were significantly augmented in the renal artery. Adenosine diphosphate and thrombin caused endothelium-dependent relaxations in renal but not in peripheral arteries. This finding suggests a heterogeneity of endothelium-dependent relaxations in human arteries and indicates that the relaxations are mediated by the release of an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (or factors) rather than the release of prostacyclin.
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lüscher
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D015237:Dinoprost; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011460:Prostaglandins F; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D015237:Dinoprost; D013917:Thrombin; D000109:Acetylcholine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D007213:Indomethacin