Endothelin-1 and carbachol: differences in contractile effects and myosin phosphorylation in lamb tracheal smooth muscle.

Endothelin-1 is a new potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by the endothelial cells. The contractile effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) were compared with those of cabachol in lamb tracheal smooth muscle. Equimolar concentrations (10(-6)M) of endothelin 1 and carbachol elicit rapidly rising isometric tension which is maintained indefinitely in a steady state when fibres are stimulated with carbachol. Fibre strips exposed to ET-1 cannot maintain peak isometric force beyond 15-20 min and instead these exhibit a decline in tension towards near relaxed state. In addition to an early transient relaxation, ET-1 stimulation results in a 20,000 Da myosin light chain phosphorylation pattern different from that of carbachol stimulation.