Biomaterial Database

Endothelin has no positive inotropic effect in guinea-pig atria or papillary muscle. 1990

R Volkmann, and K Bokvist, and A Wennmalm

Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Endothelin is a recently discovered, highly potent vasoconstrictor peptide. In isolated atria from rat and guinea-pig, endothelin has been reported to elicit a positive inotropic effect. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of endothelin on electromechanical coupling in guinea-pig atrial and ventricular muscle. In isolated, electrically driven specimens of atria and papillary muscle, action potentials and isometric contractions were recorded in the basal state and 30 min following non-cumulative exposure to endothelin (100 nM). In the atria, endothelin reduced action potential overshoot and relaxation velocity, and increased resting tension. In the papillary muscle the peptide slightly shortened the duration of the action potential. Endothelin did not affect peak tension, either in the atria or in the papillary muscle. These data contrast with earlier reports on a positive inotropic effect of endothelin in guinea-pig atria.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009200	Myocardial Contraction	Contractile activity of the MYOCARDIUM.	Heart Contractility,Inotropism, Cardiac,Cardiac Inotropism,Cardiac Inotropisms,Contractilities, Heart,Contractility, Heart,Contraction, Myocardial,Contractions, Myocardial,Heart Contractilities,Inotropisms, Cardiac,Myocardial Contractions
D010210	Papillary Muscles	Conical muscular projections from the walls of the cardiac ventricles, attached to the cusps of the atrioventricular valves by the chordae tendineae.	Muscle, Papillary,Muscles, Papillary,Papillary Muscle
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004730	Endothelium, Vascular	Single pavement layer of cells which line the luminal surface of the entire vascular system and regulate the transport of macromolecules and blood components.	Capillary Endothelium,Vascular Endothelium,Capillary Endotheliums,Endothelium, Capillary,Endotheliums, Capillary,Endotheliums, Vascular,Vascular Endotheliums
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D006325	Heart Atria	The chambers of the heart, to which the BLOOD returns from the circulation.	Heart Atrium,Left Atrium,Right Atrium,Atria, Heart,Atrium, Heart,Atrium, Left,Atrium, Right
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016232	Endothelins	21-Amino-acid peptides produced by vascular endothelial cells and functioning as potent vasoconstrictors. The endothelin family consists of three members, ENDOTHELIN-1; ENDOTHELIN-2; and ENDOTHELIN-3. All three peptides contain 21 amino acids, but vary in amino acid composition. The three peptides produce vasoconstrictor and pressor responses in various parts of the body. However, the quantitative profiles of the pharmacological activities are considerably different among the three isopeptides.	Endothelium-Derived Vasoconstrictor Factors,Endothelin,Vasoconstrictor Factors, Endothelium-Derived