title: The endothelial saga: the past, the present, the future.
abstract: Endothelium-dependent changes in vasomotor tone, whether evoked by vasoactive agents or physical forces, are recognized as essential for the local hemodynamic control in various normal and pathological circumstances. They are based on a complex signaling network within the vascular wall. In recent years, substantial efforts have been made to analyze how such signals are generated and used in the endothelium-dependent control of vascular smooth muscle. The underlying mechanisms vary with species, age, sex, hormonal status, vascular bed studied, caliber of the blood vessels, triggering stimuli, pre-existing vascular tone, oxidative stress, and pathology. Such aspects and many others will be addressed specifically by the authors contributing to this volume.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Study and Therapy of Pain, Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Str., 700115, Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Dragomir N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Serban
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nilius
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors / Q000502:physiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide