Ionic conductances in arterioles modulated by endothelium-derived factors

构成血管内层的内皮细胞可以释放一些化学物质，其中一些可以松弛血管壁上的肌肉，而另一些化学物质可以使血管收缩。收缩的化学物质和松弛的化学物质之间的正确平衡对血管的正常健康运作至关重要，因此对身体各器官的正常血液流动和维持正常的血压至关重要。如果出现失衡，例如松弛化学物质的有效性降低，那么血管壁上的肌肉往往会更加收缩，这可能会导致血液流量减少，并可能导致血压升高。这种失衡可能是糖尿病、雷诺现象和高血压等血管并发症的基础。在最近一项关于内皮细胞释放的松弛化学物质的影响的研究中，我们发现了一种可以导致血管收缩的化学物质的影响。这种因子的化学同一性及其引起收缩的机制尚不清楚。由于这种化学物质的过度活动往往会收缩血管，从而提高血压，因此确定这种物质的化学特性并确定它是如何导致收缩的很重要。最终开发出抑制这种化学物质作用的药物可能是治疗某些血管系统疾病的一种可能方法。这项研究旨在确定这一因素如何导致血管收缩，并为确定其身份迈出了第一步。

The endothelial cells which form the inside lining of blood vessels can release a number of chemicals, some of which can relax the muscle in the wall of the blood vessels, while other chemicals can make the blood vessels contract. The correct balance between the contracting chemicals and the relaxing chemicals is essential for normal healthy functioning of the vessels and therefore proper blood flow through the organs of the body, and for the maintenance of normal blood pressure. If an imbalance occurs, such as a decrease in the effectiveness of the relaxing chemicals, then the muscle in the wall of the blood vessels tends to be more contracted, and this may result in decreased blood flow and possibly increased blood pressure. Such imbalances may underlie the vascular complications of diabetes, Raynaud's Phenomenon and essential hypertension. In a recent study on the effects of relaxing chemicals released from the endothelial cells, we have discovered the effects of a chemical which can cause blood vessels to contract. The chemical identity of this factor and the mechanisms by which it causes contraction are not known. Since excess activity of this chemical would tend to contract the blood vessels and therefore raise blood pressure, it is important to determine the chemical identity of this substance, and to determine how it causes contraction. The eventual development of drugs to inhibit the actions of this chemical may be a possible means for treating some diseases of the vascular system. This study is aimed at determining how this factor causes the blood vessels to contract, and takes the first steps towards determining its identity.