Related Experiment Videos
Endothelin in hypertension
1Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Current Opinion in Cardiology
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Endothelins, potent vasoconstrictors, may play a role in severe experimental hypertension. Evidence suggests enhanced endothelin-1 production in some hypertensive models, but its role in human essential hypertension requires further study.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Endothelins are potent vasoconstrictors with mitogenic properties produced by vascular endothelium and other tissues.
- Endothelins may contribute to hypertension pathogenesis via vascular, renal, endocrine, and neural mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of endothelins in various models of experimental hypertension.
- To assess the impact of endothelin receptor antagonism on blood pressure and vascular hypertrophy.
Main Methods:
- Studies in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats, and malignant spontaneously hypertensive rats.
- Chronic administration of endothelin receptor antagonists.
- Assessment of vascular endothelin-1 production and blood pressure responses.
Main Results:
- Enhanced endothelin-1 production observed in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rats and malignant spontaneously hypertensive rats.
- Endothelin receptor antagonists blunted blood pressure elevation and vascular hypertrophy in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt hypertensive rats.
- Spontaneously hypertensive rats showed no vascular endothelin overexpression or hypotensive response to antagonists.
Conclusions:
- Endothelins appear to be involved in severe forms of experimental hypertension, particularly those with enhanced endothelin-1 production.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of endothelins in human essential hypertension, where evidence of activation is currently limited.