Defining the role of endothelins in renal pathophysiology on the basis of selective and unselective endothelin receptor antagonist studies.

The sensitivity of the renal vasculature to endothelin-1 together with the effect of the peptide on the kidney prompted investigators to study the role of endothelin-1 in renal pathophysiology. The kidney expresses both endothelinA and endothelinB receptors, which differ from species to species. Experiments employing specific endothelin receptor antagonists in experimental animals have suggested a role for endothelin-1 in ischaemia-induced acute renal failure and renal disease progression.