The Croonian Lecture, 1993. The endothelium: maestro of the blood circulation.
The vascular endothelium plays a vital role in the control of the circulation. It metabolizes various vasoactive substances, coverts angiotensin I to angiotensin II and secretes the potent vasodilators prostacyclin and EDRF (NO) and the vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1. The balance between these mediators determines the responses of the cardiovascular system in diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.
Vane
J R
JR
William Harvey Research Institute, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London, U.K.
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016232:Endothelins / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014664:Vasodilation
D016232:Endothelins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011464:Epoprostenol