Autoradiographic localisation of endothelin binding sites in kidney

[125I]Endothelin binding sites occurred in glomeruli of human, monkey, rat and dog kidney but not rabbit glomeruli. The renal medulla had more binding sites in all species, with the greatest densities of all in the rat and monkey renal papillas. Binding in rat kidney was inhibited by [Ala3,11]endothelin with lower potency than endothelin but not by unrelated peptides. These binding sites may represent the endothelin receptors and suggest actions for endothelin on renal function.