內皮素(endothelin, ET)是由21個胺基酸(amino acid)所組成的肽類(peptide)物質,廣泛分布於血管系統內,共有三種亞型(isoforms),分別是Endothelin-1(ET-1)、ET-2及ET-3。ET-1是ET存於人體內最主要的形式,其他亞型胺基酸排列與ET-1接近。ET-1不但能使得血管產生強力收縮,也與其他激素共同調節人體局部血流與維持血壓穩定狀態。運動員的心臟肥大,是人體為適應高強度身體活動而產生的適應(adaptation)或代償(compensation)反應,在心肌肥大的過程中,不但結構有明顯的變化,也通常伴隨一些激素分泌水準的改變。本文回顧近年文獻,說明內皮素的生理機轉以及運動對內皮素分泌水準的影響,並進一步針對內皮素對運動性心臟肥大的影響加以探討。
Endothelin (ET), a peptide composed of 21 amino acids, circulates in blood vessels. There are three isoforms of ET: endothelin-1 (ET-1), ET-2 and ET-3 can be found. ET-1 is the main isoform in human body. The amino acid sequences of the other ET isoforms are similar to ET-1. ET-1 not only causes blood vessels contraction but also modulates human local perfusion worked in concert with other hormones aimed to maintain stable blood pressure. Hypertrophy of athlete's heart is an adaptation or compensatory response against high-intensity exercise. During development of myocardial hypertrophy, significant changes not only in heart structure but also in some endocrine alteration. This paper reviewed current knowledge in recent works to shed light in the physiological mechanisms of ET and the effects of exercise on ET secretion. Furthermore, the influence of ET on physiological cardiac hypertrophy is discussed.