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Aim Primary forests have high conservation value but are rare in Europe due to historic land use. Yet many primary forest patches remain unmapped, and it is unclear to what extent they are effectively protected. Our aim was to (1) compile the most comprehensive European‐scale map of currently known primary forests, (2) analyse the spatial determinants characterizing their location and (3) locate areas where so far unmapped primary forests likely occur. Location Europe. Methods We aggregated data from a literature review, online questionnaires and 32 datasets of primary forests. We used boosted regression trees to explore which biophysical, socio‐economic and forest‐related variables explain the current distribution of primary forests. Finally, we predicted and mapped the relative likelihood of primary forest occurrence at a 1‐km resolution across Europe. Results Data on primary forests were frequently incomplete or inconsistent among countries. Known primary forests covered 1.4 Mha in 32 countries (0.7% of Europe’s forest area). Most of these forests were protected (89%), but only 46% of them strictly. Primary forests mostly occurred in mountain and boreal areas and were unevenly distributed across countries, biogeographical regions and forest types. Unmapped primary forests likely occur in the least accessible and populated areas, where forests cover a greater share of land, but wood demand historically has been low. Main conclusions Despite their outstanding conservation value, primary forests are rare and their current distribution is the result of centuries of land use and forest management. The conservation outlook for primary forests is uncertain as many are not strictly protected and most are small and fragmented, making them prone to extinction debt and human disturbance. Predicting where unmapped primary forests likely occur could guide conservation efforts, especially in Eastern Europe where large areas of primary forest still exist but are being lost at an alarming pace.

Abstract-Sodmmplay3 an important role m the pathogenesls and therapy of hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease This study investigated the mvolvement of endothelm m vascular alterations m salt-induced Dahl hypertension Salt-sensitive (DS) and salt-resistant (DR) Dahl rats were treated with a high-sodium diet (NaCl 4%) with or without ETA receptor antagomst LU135252 for two months, and effects of treatments on systolic blood pressure, vascular endothelm-1 (ET-l) protein content, aortlc hypertrophy, and vascular reactlvlty of isolated aortlc rings were studied In DS rats, a high-sodium diet increased systolic pressure (190+4 versus 15252 Key Words: Dahl hypertension n endothehum n endothelm n nitric oxide n sodium n ETA receptors n vascular hypertrophy H ypertenslon IS a major risk factor for cardiovascular dlsease ' * Dietary sodium plays an Important role m the maintenance of plasma volume and blood pressure' and mduces hypertension m salt-sensitive essentially hypertensive patients 245 Although vascular sodium concentrations are mcreased m hypertensive human subJects,' it IS currently unknown whether and to what extent increases In sodium (in plasma or tissue) interact with the vascular endothehn vasopressor system In contrast to DOCA-hypertensive rats,' the Dahl rat provides a genetic model of salt-sensltwe hypertension,7'8 developing functlonal and structural abnormahtles of the endothehum and vascular smooth muscle in response to increased sodium chloride intake ') '" Dysfunction of the endothehum, which modulates vascular tone and structure through the release of NO and ET-l ," IS likely to promote functlonal and structural vascular changes In salt-sensitive hypertension ET-l 1s a potentlal candidate of salt-induced alterations" because of ltc potent vasoconstnctort3 and prollferatlve plopertles ",'5 The present study was designed to assess whether ET-l, which exerts vasoconstnctlon and prohferatlon through actlvatlon of ET, receptors,15-" contributes to the changes in vascular fimctlon and structure m salt-sensitive hypertension We therefore investigated the effects of endothehn ET,-receptor blockade using an orally active, nonpephde selective ET,-receptor antagonist m salt-sensitive and salt-resistant Dahl rats

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The finding of a difference in the concentration gradients between the CLCSF within the intracranial spaces and the SAS of the ONs in this group of NTG patients compared with control subjects supports the hypothesis of a disturbed CSF exchange between the CSF in the intracranial spaces and the CSF in the SAS surrounding the ONs. The disturbance of CSF dynamics in this specific CSF pathway can be explained by ON compartmentation. The clinical importance of this finding warrants further investigation.

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