Endothelium-Dependent Hyperpolarizations [antikvár]

PREFACE This monograph is the second of a series devoted to endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations. It consists of the Proceedings of the Second International Symposium discussing this topic, which was held in Vaux de Cernay from 5-6 June, 1998. Whereas the first meeting established the existence of endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization and of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), this symposium constitutes a major step forward as it established the multiplicity of factors involved, and reinforced the concept that EDHF, as opposed to nitric oxidé (NO) is of particular importance in smaller blood vessels. The symposium alsó stressed how EDHF has become an exploding field of interest world-wide. The first chapters discuss the many candidates as EDHF, analysing the contribution of mediators proposed at the first meeting, and suggesting sometimes surprising new ones. A second series of chapters detail, almost at the molecular level, the action of EDHF on vascular smooth muscle cells. A third set of contributions continue to enlarge our knowledge of the physiological and pathological roles of endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations. The final series of chapters reports on the, still limited but crucial, knowledge of the contribution of EDHF in humán blood vessels, in health and disease. As always with multi-authored texts, the responsibility for the scientific content rests with the individual authors. Hence the statements made are not necessarily endorsed by the editor. His task has been mainly to select the authors, to streamline their texts, and to achieve, as much as possible, uniformity of presentation. Endothelium-Dependent Hyperpolarizations will be of interest not only to physiologists and pharmacologists puzzled by the complexity of the interactions between the endothelium and the underlying vascular smooth muscle cells but alsó to clinical researchers and to the physicians who treat patients with cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, the understanding of the nature and the role of EDHF already appears to be crucial in the quest for an improvement in the treatment of hypertension and other vascular disorders. Paul M. Vanhoutte