ENDOTHELINS - VASOACTIVE PEPTIDES AND GROWTH-FACTORS

The endothelins (ETs) are regulatory peptides, distributed in many org an systems and with potent physiological effects. ETs represent the mo st powerful vasoconstrictive substances known today. They also act as growth factors and seem to be involved in fetal development. Much data support a pathophysiological role for ETs, especially in diseases of the vascular system, such as hypertension, preeclampsia, ischemic hear t disease, subarachnoidal haemorrhage, and cerebral ischemia. The deve lopment of drugs affecting ET-receptors and the biosynthesis of ETs pr esently attract great interest for the establishment of new treatments of diseases in which ETs are involved. Hopefully, the elaboration of more specific ET-receptor ligands will fulfill some of these expectati ons.