Vanhoutte P M
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
J Hypertens Suppl. 1987 Dec;5(5):S115-20.
The endothelium of a wide variety of arteries can release a potent vasodilator substance (endothelium-derived relaxing factor). The relaxation of smooth muscle cells evoked by endothelium-derived relaxing factor is associated with activation of guanylate cyclase. Under certain conditions the endothelium can produce contracting factors as well. Dysfunction of the endothelium may lead to abnormal behaviour of the underlying smooth muscle, e.g. vasospasm.
多种动脉的内皮可释放一种强效血管舒张物质（内皮源性舒张因子）。内皮源性舒张因子引起的平滑肌细胞舒张与鸟苷酸环化酶的激活有关。在某些情况下，内皮也可产生收缩因子。内皮功能障碍可能导致其下方平滑肌的异常行为，如血管痉挛。
