MECHANISMS OF CENTRAL ENDOTHELIN-INDUCED HYPOTENSION

The aims of the present study were i) to determine the type of endothelin receptor(s) mediating the hypotension produced by central administration of endothelin-1 (ET-1), ii) to delineate the hemodynamic factors contributing to this hypotension and iii) to differentiate between the neural and cerebrovascular actions of ET-1. Towards these objectives, we monitoreal blood flow from the choroid plexus of the IVth cerebral ventricle (4CV) as an index of local cerebral blood flow (CBF); also, aortic blood flow (ABF) and cutaneous microvascular blood flow (CMF) of the hindpaw were monitored.