We previously reported that endothelin (ET) 3 inhibited presynaptically the dog stellate ganglionic transmission. Here, we report the investigation of the possible involvement of nitric oxide pathway in the endothelin-induced inhibition of the ganglionic transmission. The amount of acetylcholine released by preganglionic stimulation for 10 min was concentration-dependently inhibited after expos...

Endothelin receptor blockade is an emerging therapy for pulmonary hypertension. However, hemodynamic and structural effects and potential changes in endogenous nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP and endothelin-1 signaling of chronic endothelin A receptor blockade in pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease are unknown. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine hemodynami...

Endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that a selective endothelin type A receptor antagonist (ambrisentan) and a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (tadalafil) may act synergistically to relax endothelin-constricted pulmonary arteries. Rat isolated intrapulmonary arterial rings contract...

Background: Previous studies have shown increases in endothelin (ET) concentration of plasma and renal tissues in acute renal failure (ARF).  ET has a potent vasoconstrictor effect, through binding with its ETA receptors, and may play some roles in renal hemodynamic dysfunction in ARF.Objective: To examine the beneficial effect of a selective ETA-receptor antagonist on renal dysfunction and tis...

Endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that a selective endothelin type A receptor antagonist (ambrisentan) and a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (tadalafil) may act synergistically to relax endothelin-constricted pulmonary arteries. Rat isolated intrapulmonary arterial rings contract...

AIMS AND METHODS The pulmonary and vascular effects of endothelin-1 receptor activation were studied in isolated perfused and ventilated lung preparations from rat. The responses to endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the endothelin B (ET(B)) receptor agonist sarafotoxin 6c (S6c) were characterized using the endothelin A (ET(A))-receptor antagonist FR 139317, the ET(B)-receptor antagonist BQ 788 and the co...

Contraction of vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle induced by the endothelin/sarafotoxin family of peptides frequently does not readily fit into the current classification criteria for ETA and ETB receptors, raising the possibility of additional atypical receptors. In the current study, isometric tension recording and radioligand binding techniques were used to characterize the ETA receptor ...

BACKGROUND Palliative treatment with the Fontan procedure has greatly improved survival for children with functionally univentricular heart. Since Fontan performed the first successful operation, the procedure has evolved and is now performed as Total Cavo-Pulmonary Connection (TCPC).An increasing prevalence and longer life expectancy of TCPC patients have raised new challenges. The survivors a...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulation of beta-adrenergic agonist-induced apoptosis by endothelin-1 (ET-1) in cardiac myocytes. BACKGROUND Numerous hormonal factors including norepinephrine and ET-1 are activated in patients with heart failure. These factors may be involved in the positive and negative regulation of myocardial cell apoptosis observed in failing...

Endothelins are potent peptide vasoconstrictors which were discovered two decades back. Their role in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus and many other diseases have been studied. Inspite of a lot of research many questions regarding their pathophysiological roles still remain unanswered. Though many endothelin receptor antagonists showed promising results in animal st...