title: The cardiac endothelium: cardioactive mediators.
abstract: Endothelial cells within the heart release a number of substances that modulate myocardial contractile function. These agents include nitric oxide, endothelin, prostanoids, adenylpurines, and other substances that have so far been characterized only in bioassay studies. A notable feature of many of these agents is that they influence contractile behavior predominantly by modifying cardiac myofilament properties rather than altering cytosolic Ca2+ transients. A consequence of this subcellular action is often a disproportionate effect on myocardial relaxation and diastolic tone. The paracrine modulation of cardiac myocyte function by endothelial cell factors is likely to be an important mechanism contributing to the overall regulation of cardiac contractile function, both physiologically and in pathological states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Grocott-Mason
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Pepper
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mebazaa
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Paulus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D004699:Endocardium / Q000502:physiology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D011453:Prostaglandins; D009569:Nitric Oxide