Endogenous Vasoactive Peptides

Abstract

The control of vasomotor tone regulates the overall cardiovascular system and its responses to physiological and pathophysiological stress. It provides differential blood flow to regional vascular beds under normal physiologic conditions, at times of normal stress, such as exercise, and during conditions of pathological stress, such as congestive heart failure. Although the vascular system regulates many of its functions at the site of the blood vessel itself, other factors that may control vascular tone include the autonomic nervous system, circulating hormones functioning in an endocrine role, and reflex metabolic control. Many newly discovered peptides were found to be widespread in autonomic and sensory neurons innervating the vasculature, and they possess potent vasoactive effects on many blood vessels. Vasoactive peptides have been shown to play an important role in many pathological situations, for example, asthma, arthritis, vascular headaches, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases. In this chapter, we will outline the evidence for the different actions of various vasoactive peptides, their interaction with other systems, the possible role they have in diseases, and the present and future therapeutic use of vasoactive peptide agonists and antagonists.