Actin polymerization has recently emerged as an important cellular process that regulates smooth muscle contraction. Abelson tyrosine kinase (Abl) has been implicated in the regulation of actin dynamics and force development in vascular smooth muscle. In the present study, the systolic blood pressure was lower in Abl(-/-) knockout mice compared with wild-type mice. The knockout of Abl diminishe...

A variety of contractile stimuli increases actin polymerization, which is essential for smooth muscle contraction. However, the mechanism(s) of actin polymerization associated with smooth muscle contraction is not fully understood. We tested the hypothesis that phosphorylated myosin triggers actin polymerization. The present study was conducted in isolated intact or beta-escin-permeabilized rat...

After correction for extracellular space (40%) determined from electron micrographs, the maximum isometric force developed by strips prepared from the media of the hog carotid artery (2.2 x 10(6) dyn/cm(2)) can be extrapolated to give a value of 3.7 x 10(6) dyn/cm(2) for the smooth muscle component of the strip. Three independent estimates of the myosin content of the smooth muscle cells were m...

RATIONALE Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic modulation is characterized by the downregulation of SMC contractile genes. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB, a well-known stimulator of SMC phenotypic modulation, downregulates SMC genes via posttranscriptional regulation. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVE To establish RNA editing as a novel mechanism...

although the etiology of varicose veins remains unknown, recent studies have focused on endothelial cell integrity and function because the endothelium regulates vessel tone and synthesizes many pro- and anti-inflammatory factors. the aim of this study was to investigate the evidence involving the endothelium in the development of varicose vein disease. in addition, tissue remodeling was invest...

During vascular remodeling in adult organisms, new capillary growth is often coupled with the adaptation of arterioles and venules, a process that requires the recruitment and differentiation of precursor cells into smooth muscle. We studied the in vivo adaptation of microvessels in the presence of elevated pressure and circumferential wall stress using a ligation strategy for mesenteric microv...

The objective of the study aims to evaluate the combined protective effects of coenzyme Q10 and magnesium sulphate on isoproterenol induced myocardial damage in rats. CoenzymeQ10 (50 mg/kg) and magnesium sulphate (10 mg/kg) were administered orally to wistar rats in individual or in combination for 30 days.  At the end of this period, rats were administered isoproterenol (85 mg/kg i.p.) intrape...

Abstract Introduction: Myofibroblasts are the main stromal components that constitute the desmoplastic reaction of host cells to inductive stimuli exerted by tumor cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the score of myofibroblasts using α -smooth muscle actin marker (α–SMA) in mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) in comparison with pleomorphic adenoma (PA)and study the amount presence of t...