Endothelin, one of the most important vasoconstrictor substances produced by endothelial cells plays along with NO an important role in maintaining the vascular tonus and influencing the vasomotorics of coronary vessels and myocardial perfusion. Damage of the vascular endothelium upsets the dynamic balance between the action of vasoconstrictor and vasodilator substances. In the submitted review the authors discuss the influence of endothelin on cardiomyocytes, the cardiac conduction system and the coronary arteries. The authors emphasize the action of endothelin in atherosclerotically altered coronary arteries, in hypercholesterolaemia and arterial hypertension. Endothelin plays an important role in unstable angina pectoris, cardiogenic shock advanced congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction. In the conclusion the author discuss studies investigating the relationship of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and the endothelin release into the circulation.

Keywords: Animals; Coronary Circulation /physiology/; Endothelins /physiology/; Humans; Vasoconstriction /physiology/