title: [Endocrine function of the cardiovascular system].
abstract: The cardiovascular system has in addition to it haemodynamic role also an important endocrine function. It produces a number of humoral substances which are either released into the circulation and exert a systemic endocrine effect (e.g. the atrial natriuretic factor from the atria) or act at the site of their genesis. This autocrine or paracrine action is typical above all for substances formed in the endothelium and vascular wall (endothelin, endothelium-derived relaxation factor, prostaglandins, prostacyclines, renin-angiotensin cascade etc.). Cardiovascular substances influence by their action markedly the general and organ haemodynamics, the volume and pressure homeostasis the development and regression, of cardiac hypertrophy and vascular walls, as well as thrombogenesis and atherogenesis. They participate thus in a significant way in physiological regulations and pathological processes in the organism.
authors.affiliation: II. interní klinika 1. LF UK, Praha.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horký
mesh_terms: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor