In recent years, we have witnessed a rapid expansion of our knowledge regarding the role of the endothelium in the control of vascular tone (and organ perfusion) in health and disease. Physiology, pharmacology, and molecular biology have uncovered a wealth of information on structure and function of this heretofore largely neglected "organ". Clinical medicine is now called upon to define the clinical significance of these observa tions that imply the mechanisms of blood coagulation, e.g., the interaction of throm bocytes with the endothelium, vasomotor control, and specifically, the regulation of smooth muscle tone with consequences for vascular resistance and conductance and organ blood flow. Finally, metabolism of lipids with the everlasting problem of athero sclerosis is an important aspect. In a second step, implications regarding the improvement of current therapeutic con cepts, as well as the development of new modalities of pharmacotherapy will have to be discussed. The topic addressed by the 1990 Gargellen Conference: Endothelial Mechanisms of Vasomotor Control, clearly is of interest for both basic scientists and clinicians. It has been the aim of the organizers, the Society for Cooperation in Medical Science (SCMS) with this and the previous symposia to foster and support both basic science and clinical research. Research in medicine today shows two major directions of development: on the one hand, increasing involvement of the basic sciences and their methodology. On the other hand, statistical validation of concepts and therapeutic strategies in large scale population-and multicenter-studies.

Basic Physiology of EDRF

Cellular mechanisms controlling EDRF/NO formation in endothelial cells
EDRF: nitrosylated compound or authentic nitric oxide
Does EDRF/NO regulate its own release by increasing endothelial cyclic GMP?
Molecular mechanisms of nitrovasodilator bioactivation
Angiogenesis in the adult heart
The endothelium in control of blood flow in vivo
Endothelium and blood flow mediated vasomotion in the conscious dog
Endothelium-mediated regulation of coronary tone
Role of EDRF and endothelium in coronary vasomotor control
Blood flow and optimal vascular topography: role of the endothelium
Impaired tissue perfusion after inhibition of endothelium-derived nitric oxide
Endothelial function in pathological conditions
Endothelial dysfunction in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion: role of ogygen-derived free radicals
Interactions between nitric oxide and prostacyclin in myocardial ischemia and endothelial cell cultures
Effects of native and oxidized low-density lipoproteins on endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasomotion
Endothelium-dependent control of vascular tone: effects of age, hypertension and lipids
Experimental induction of spasm, sudden progression of organic stenosis and intramural hemorrhage in the epicardial coronary arteries
Endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia is corrected by L-arginine
Endothelial function in the clinical setting
Assessment of coronary vasomotor tone in humans
Coronary vasomotion and coronary flow reserve during exercise
Coronary hemodynamic determinants of epicardial artery vasomotor responses during sympathetic stimulation in humans
Coronary vasospasm in humans: the role of atherosclerosis and of impaired endothelial vasodilator function
Progression of coronary endothelial dysfunction in man and its potential clinical significance
Response of coronary arteries to nitrates, the EDRF-donor SIN-1, and calcium antagonists.