Mast cell tryptase is a potent mitogen for many cells in the airways and lung, but the cellular mechanisms for its growth stimulatory effects are poorly understood. Our major goal was to determine whether tryptase activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI 3-kinases) in cultured dog tracheal smooth muscle cells to induce its mitogenic effects. After exposure to tryptase, cells were lysed. Imm...

Objective: To evaluate and compare the protective effects of salbutamol and montelukast in amelioration of insulin induced airway hyper-reactivity on isolated tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pig in vitro. Study Design: Laboratory based randomized control trials (Experimental study). Place and Duration of Study: Pharmacology Department and Centre for Research in Experimental and Applied Medicin...

General anaesthesia is a tetrad of amnesia (unconsciousness), analgesia, control of autonomic reflexes and muscle relaxation. Amnesia (unconsciousness) is usually induced by intra-venous anaesthetic agents and then maintained by using inhalational anaesthetic agents. Analgesia is provided by various analgesic drugs or by regional/peripheral nerve blocks. Muscle relaxation component of general a...

Thiazolidinediones are commonly used anti-diabetic drugs. Owing to the anti-inflammatory action of TZDs as a result of there action on the PPAR gamma receptor and a proposed action on the prostaglandins, these drugs can be tried in the acute exacerbations of COPD that are also commonly found among diabetic patients. An experimental study of one week was carried out at animal house of Army Medic...

Previous studies have documented that repetitive exposure to intermittent hypoxia, such as that encountered in preparation to high-altitude ascent, influences breathing. However, the impact of intermittent hypoxia on airway smooth muscle has not been explored. Ascents to high altitude, in addition to hypoxia, expose individuals to cold air. The objective of the present study is to examine the e...

Mast cell tryptase is a potent mitogen for many cells in the airways and lung, but the cellular mechanisms for its growth stimulatory effects are poorly understood. Our major goal was to determine whether tryptase activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI 3-kinases) in cultured dog tracheal smooth muscle cells to induce its mitogenic effects. After exposure to tryptase, cells were lysed. Imm...

Although the shortening of smooth muscle at physiological lengths is dominated by an interaction between external forces (loads) and internal forces, at very short lengths, internal forces appear to dominate the mechanical behavior of the active tissue. We tested the hypothesis that, under conditions of extreme shortening and low external force, the mechanical behavior of isolated canine trache...

The intermediate filament protein vimentin has been shown to be required for smooth muscle contraction. The adapter protein p130 Crk-associated substrate (CAS) participates in the signaling processes that regulate force development in smooth muscle. However, the interaction of vimentin filaments with CAS has not been well elucidated. In the present study, ACh stimulation of tracheal smooth musc...

BACKGROUND Tracheomalacia (TM) is a condition of excessive tracheal collapse during exhalation. Both acquired and congenital forms of TM are believed to result from morphological changes in cartilaginous, fibrous and/or smooth muscle tissues reducing airway mechanical properties to a degree that precipitates collapse. However, neither the specific amount of mechanical property reduction nor the...