In recent years we have witnessed a rapid expansion of our knowledge regarding the role of the
endothelium in the control of vascular tone (and organ perfusion) in health and disease.
Physiology pharmacology and molecular biology have uncovered a wealth of information on
structure and function of this heretofore largely neglected organ. Clinical medicine is now
called upon to define the clinical significance of these observa tions that imply the
mechanisms of blood coagulation e.g. the interaction of throm bocytes with the endothelium
vasomotor control and specifically the regulation of smooth muscle tone with consequences for
vascular resistance and conductance and organ blood flow. Finally metabolism of lipids with
the everlasting problem of athero sclerosis is an important aspect. In a second step
implications regarding the improvement of current therapeutic con cepts as well as the
development of new modalities of pharmacotherapy will have to be discussed. The topic addressed
by the 1990 Gargellen Conference: Endothelial Mechanisms of Vasomotor Control clearly is of
interest for both basic scientists and clinicians. It has been the aim of the organizers the
Society for Cooperation in Medical Science (SCMS) with this and the previous symposia to foster
and support both basic science and clinical research. Research in medicine today shows two
major directions of development: on the one hand increasing involvement of the basic sciences
and their methodology. On the other hand statistical validation of concepts and therapeutic
strategies in large scale population-and multicenter-studies.
