[Significance of endothelin in shock pathogenesis]

Endothelin is a recently discovered bioactive peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells. By means of specific radioimmunoassay we found that plasma endothelin level in patients with late septic shock was significantly increased. And a typical shock model in healthy rats was reproduced by continuous infusion of endothelin (endothelin shock). Infusion of endothelin at a small dose to hemorrhagic shocked rats deteriorated the shock process and resulted in an irreversible development. From these results it is suggested that endothelin may be an endogenous injury-inducing factor, acting as one of the important humoral factors involved in shock pathogenesis.