[The role of blood vessel endothelium in vascular smooth muscle reactivity to biologically active substances and drugs].

There are four humoral substances which are synthesized in the vascular endothelium: Endothelium Derived Relaxing Factor (EDRF); Endothelium Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor (EDHF); Endothelium Derived Contracting Factor (EDCF) and Prostacyclin. EDRF is identical with nitric oxide (NO), and, under physiological conditions is synthesized in the body from l-arginine. I the release of EDHF muscarinic M1 and M2 receptors are involved (implicated). EDCF (endothelin) is a 21 amino acid peptide (or series of peptides). The authors discuss the role and importance of the endothelum derived factors in different processes under physiological and pathophysiological conditions such as: regulation of the vascular tone, inflammation, trauma, hypertension, arteriosclerosis and aggregation.