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Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor(s). Does it Exist and What Role Does it Play in the Regulation of Blood Flow?

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Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Disease

Part of the book series: Progress in Experimental Cardiology ((PREC,volume 10))

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Summary

The endothelium is a source of many substances that play important roles in the short- and long-term regulation of the cardiovascular system. In this review we focus on endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, or EDHF. EDHF is often referred to as the “third pathway” as, in addition to nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) EDHF seems to play an important role as the “third” endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Considerable debate is on going concerning the nature of EDHF and, indeed, whether a unique molecule even exists. EDHF, by definition, mediates its action by directly, or indirectly, opening K-channels. In most instances the action of EDHF is abolished by the combination of two K-channel toxins, apamin and charybdotoxin; however, the channels that these inhibitors interact with would seem to be located on endothelial rather than vascular smooth muscle cells. The cellular mechanisms whereby EDHF mediates vascular smooth muscle hyperpolarization may involve myo-endothelial gap junctions thus negating the role for a true chemical mediator. Endothelial dysfunction is a common feature of cardiovascular disease, including the cardiovascular dysfunction associated with diabetes, and the role that changes in the nature/function of EDHF play in this process is currently an area of considerable interest. Therapeutic and dietary interventions that restore endothelial function may prove to be of tremendous benefit in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Smooth Muscle Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 4N1, Alberta, Canada

    Chris R. Triggle & Malarvannan Pannirselvam

  2. Departments of Medicine, Smooth Muscle Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4N1

    Todd J. Anderson

  3. Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, Boyer Center, New Haven, CT, 06536, USA

    Hong Ding

Authors
  1. Chris R. Triggle
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  2. Malarvannan Pannirselvam
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  3. Todd J. Anderson
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  4. Hong Ding
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

    Naranjan S. Dhalla PhD, MD (Hon), DSc (Hon) (Distinguished Professor and Director) (Distinguished Professor and Director)

  2. Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Heinz Rupp PhD (Professor of Medicine) (Professor of Medicine)

  3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

    Aubie Angel MD (Professor of Internal Medicine) (Professor of Internal Medicine)

  4. Division of Stroke & Vascular Disease St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

    Grant N. Pierce PhD, FACC (Professor & Director) (Professor & Director)

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© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Triggle, C.R., Pannirselvam, M., Anderson, T.J., Ding, H. (2004). Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor(s). Does it Exist and What Role Does it Play in the Regulation of Blood Flow?. In: Dhalla, N.S., Rupp, H., Angel, A., Pierce, G.N. (eds) Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Disease. Progress in Experimental Cardiology, vol 10. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0453-5_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0453-5_25

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5084-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0453-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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