Role of endothelium and nitric oxide in experimental hypertension

A short review on the role of endothelium and nitric oxide (NO) in experimental hypertension is presented in the light of the literature and our own recent findings. Based on these data: it is concluded that even though there is a lot of evidence in favor of the primary and causal association of endothelial dysfunction and NO in experimental hyper-tension, it seems still more plausible that they are causative in some types of hypertension only. Our own experience rather speaks for a secondary but still an important participation of endothelium in the maintenance and further elevation of high blood pressure. Endothelium plays a key role in the development of organ damages in hypertension.