Deletion of endothelial cell endothelin B receptors does not affect blood pressure or sensitivity to salt

Endothelin B receptors in different tissues regulate diverse physiological responses including vasoconstriction, vasodilatation, clearance of endothelin-1, and renal tubular sodium reabsorption. To examine the role of endothelial cell endothelin B receptors in these processes, we generated endothelial cell-specific endothelin B receptor knockout mice using a Cre-loxP approach. We have demonstrated loss of endothelial cell endothelin B receptor expression and function and preservation of nonendothelial endothelin B receptor-mediated responses through binding and functional assays. Ablation of endothelin B receptors exclusively from endothelial cells produces endothelial dysfunction in the absence of hypertension, with evidence of decreased endogenous release of NO and increased plasma endothelin-1. In contrast to models of total endothelin B receptor ablation, the blood pressure response to a high-salt diet is unchanged in endothelial cell-specific endothelin B receptor knockouts compared with control floxed mice. These findings suggest that the endothelial cell endothelin B receptor mediates a tonic vasodilator effect and that nonendothelial cell endothelin B receptors are important for the regulation of blood pressure.