Excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle

Excitation-contraction coupling in airway smooth muscle.

Excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in striated muscles is mediated by the cardiac or skeletal muscle isoform of voltage-dependent L-type Ca(2+) channel (Ca(v)1.2 and Ca(v)1.1, respectively) that senses a depolarization of the cell membrane, and in response, activates its corresponding isoform of intracellular Ca(2+) release channel/ryanodine receptor (RyR) to release stored Ca(2+), thereby in...

Temporal aspects of excitation-contraction coupling in airway smooth muscle.

In airway smooth muscle (ASM), ACh induces propagating intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) oscillations (5-30 Hz). We hypothesized that, in ASM, coupling of elevations and reductions in [Ca2+]i to force generation and relaxation (excitation-contraction coupling) is slower than ACh-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations, leading to stable force generation. When we used real-time confocal imaging, t...

Excitation-contraction coupling in denervated muscle

Skeletal muscle atrophy can be defined as a wasting or decrease in muscle mass and muscle force generation owing lack of use, ageing, injury or disease. Thus, the etiology of atrophy can be different. Atrophy in denervated muscle is a consequence of two factors: 1) the complete lack of motoneuron activity inducing the deficiency of neurotransmitter release and 2) the muscles disuse. The balance...

Excitation Contraction Coupling in Cardiac Muscle

It is well established that excitation contraction (EC) coupling in cardiac myocytes is mediated by the entry of calcium ions (Ca 2 ) from the bathing medium into the cell cytoplasm (Fabiato, 1985), which then triggers calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). More recently, it was proposed that a second, quite separate, EC-coupling process, mediated by an eff...

Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle.