1;Preface;5 2;List of Contents;7 3;Contents of Companion Volume 176/II;8 4;List of Contributors;9 5;Normal Endothelium;10 5.1;1 Central Functional Role of the Endothelium;11 5.2;2 Heterogeneity of Endothelial Cells;12 5.3;3 Glycocalyx and Endothelial Surface Layer;25 5.4;References;37 6;Functional Ultrastructure of the Vascular Endothelium: Changes in Various Pathologies;50 6.1;1 Introduction;51 6.2;2 The Many Functions of the Endothelium Enable It to Be Called the Chief Governor of Body Homeostasis;52 6.3;3 The Endothelial Cell Structure Supports the Cell Functions;53 6.4;4 Basal Lamina;63 6.5;5 Innate Phenotypic Heterogeneity of the Vascular Endothelium;65 6.6;6 Endothelial Cell Receptors as Operational Tools;66 6.7;7 Mechanisms of Endothelial Sorting of Molecules;68 6.8;8 Changes of the Vascular Endothelium in Different Pathologies;70 6.9;9 Conclusion: Lessons from a Brave Cell;75 6.10;References;76 7;Development of the Endothelium;79 7.1;1 Introduction;80 7.2;2 Early Endothelial Precursors;81 7.3;3 Molecular Differentiation of EC;85 7.4;4 Development of Mural Cells;90 7.5;5 Endothelium Morphogenesis;98 7.6;6 Development of Arteries and Veins;101 7.7;7 Concluding Remarks;105 7.8;References;105 8;Transport Across the Endothelium: Regulation of Endothelial Permeability;114 8.1;1 Permeability Pathways: Paracellular and Transcytosis;115 8.2;2 Mechanisms of Dysregulation of Endothelial Permeability in Inflammation;132 8.3;3 Restoration of Endothelial Permeability;137 8.4;4 Concluding Remarks;140 8.5;References;141 9;Calcium Signalling in the Endothelium;152 9.1;1 Introduction;153 9.2;2 Generation of Second Messengers that Release Ca2+ from Intracellular Ca2+ Stores;154 9.3;3 Intracellular Ca2+ Stores in Endothelial Cells;157 9.4;4 Ca2+ Channels in Endothelial Cells;159 9.5;5 Types of Ca2+ Entry in Endothelial Cells;165 9.6;6 Regulation of Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry;168 9.7;7 Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase and Ca2+ Signalling;176 9.8;8 Conclusions;181 9.9;References;184 10;Eicosanoids and the Vascular Endothelium;195 10.1;1 Introduction;196 10.2;2 The COX Pathway;197 10.3;3 COX Inhibitors;207 10.4;References;210 11;Nitric Oxide and the Vascular Endothelium;218 11.1;1 Introduction;219 11.2;2 Nitric Oxide Synthase;220 11.3;3 Actions of Nitric Oxide in the Vascular System;227 11.4;4 Molecular Targets of the Action of Nitric Oxide;232 11.5;5 Nitric Oxide and Pathology;236 11.6;6 Conclusion;241 11.7;References;241 12;Angiotensin, Bradykinin and the Endothelium;260 12.1;1 Angiotensin;261 12.2;2 Bradykinin;269 12.3;3 Angiotensin-BK Interactions;273 12.4;4 Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE);279 12.5;References;283 13;Endothelin;300 13.1;1 Introduction;301 13.2;2 Endothelins and Sarafotoxins;302 13.3;3 Endothelin Synthesis;304 13.4;4 Endothelin Receptors;310 13.5;5 Physiological and Pathophysiological Role;315 13.6;6 Conclusions;322 13.7;References;323 14;Subject Index;335 15;Publisher's Erratum to The Vascular Endothelium I: Transport Across the Endothelium: Regulation of Endothelial Permeability;344