Abstract

It has been thought that blood vessels apart from the umbilical artery produce little or no thromboxane (TX) A2. However selective inhibitors of TXA2 biosynthesis have substantial effects on vessel physiology, suggesting that small amounts of TXA2 may be important in regulating function. This indirect evidence is now supported by direct measurements of TXB2 (the produce of TXA2 conversion) using both gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and radioimmunoassays. At least four independent laboratories have now demonstrated TXB2 production by various blood vessels. These studies suggest that vessel wall TXA2 is present in amounts more than adequate to exert biological actions on both vascular reactivity and on platelets. This may require re-evaluation and revision of present concepts of hypertension and thrombosis.