Smooth muscle is a major component of most hollow organ systems (e.g., airways, vasculature, bladder and gut/gastrointestine); therefore, the coordinated regulation of contraction is a key property of smooth muscle. When smooth muscle functions normally, it contributes to general health and wellness, but its dysfunction is associated with morbidity and mortality. Rho-associated protein kinase (...

Dessy, Chantal, Inkyeom Kim, Carrie L. Sougnez, Regent Laporte, and Kathleen G. Morgan. A role for MAP kinase in differentiated smooth muscle contraction evoked by a-adrenoceptor stimulation. Am. J. Physiol. 275 (Cell Physiol. 44): C1081–C1086, 1998.—The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in smooth muscle contraction by monitori...

Sustained smooth muscle contraction is mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) through a signal transduction cascade leading to contraction. Heat-shock protein 27 (HSP27) appears to be the link between these two major events, i.e., signal transduction and sustained smooth muscle contraction. We have investigated the involvement of HSP27 in signal transduction and HSP27 association with contractile p...

Enhanced airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction is an important component in the pathophysiology of asthma. We have shown that ligand gated chloride channels modulate ASM contractile tone during the maintenance phase of an induced contraction, however the role of chloride flux in depolarization-induced contraction remains incompletely understood. To better understand the role of chloride flux u...

Asthma is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling, which are largely attributed to increased airway smooth muscle contractility and cell proliferation. It is known that both chemical and mechanical stimulation regulates smooth muscle contraction. Recent studies suggest that contractile activation and mechanical stretch induce actin cytoskeletal remodeling in smooth mus...

The role of myosin phosphorylation in regulating smooth muscle contraction has been investigated by quantitating the myosin phosphate content of tracheal smooth muscle frozen during contraction or relaxation. Myosin was purified from quick-frozen muscle samples with the aid of antibodies prepared against tracheal smooth muscle myosin, and the phosphate content was determined after separation of...

OBJECTIVES Benzydamine is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents agent with anti-inflammatory and local anesthesia properties that is available in the entire world as an oral spray for oral mucositis patients who are suffering from radiation effects. The effect of benzydamine on oral mucositis in vivo is well known; however, the effect of the drug on tracheal smooth muscle has rarely been expl...

1. Splenic arterial flow and splenic weight were recorded in cats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone. The responses of the spleen to catecholamines, angiotensin and vasopressin were investigated.2. Catecholamines caused responses mediated by alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in the arteriolar smooth muscle, but only insignificant beta-adrenoceptor responses could be elicited from the capsular...

To determine whether methacholine causes vagally mediated reflex constriction of airway smooth muscle, we administered methacholine to sheep either via the bronchial artery or as an aerosol via tracheostomy into the lower airways. We then measured the contraction of an isolated, in situ segment of trachealis smooth muscle and determined the effect of vagotomy on the trachealis response. Adminis...