Inhaled bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) induce an acute tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α-) dependent inflammatory response in the murine airways mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) via the myeloid differentiation MyD88 adaptor protein pathway. However, the contractile response of the bronchial smooth muscle and the role of endogenous TNFα in this process have been elusive. We determ...

Contractility of cells in wound site is important to understand pathological wound healing and develop therapeutic strategies. In particular, contractile force generated by cells is a basic element for designing artificial three-dimensional cell culture scaffolds. Direct assessment of deformation of three-dimensional structured materials has been used to calculate contractile forces by averagin...

Chronic contractile activation, or tone, in asthma coupled with continuous stretching due to breathing may be involved in altering the contractile function of airway smooth muscle (ASM). Previously, we (11) showed that cytoskeletal remodeling and stiffening responses to acute (2 h) localized stresses were modulated by the level of contractile activation of ASM. Here, we investigated if altered ...

Muscle atrophy alone is insufficient to explain the significant decline in contractile force of skeletal muscle during normal aging. One contributing factor to decreased contractile force in aging skeletal muscle could be compromised excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling, without sufficient available Ca(2+) to allow for repetitive muscle contractility, skeletal muscles naturally become weaker. ...

The effect of external calcium and of temperature on the contractile responses has been studied in voltage clamped snake twitch muscle fibers. Increasing [Ca(++)](o) from 0.2 to 7.0 mM raised contractile threshold by 15-20 mV, the latter coinciding with the appearance of delayed rectification. The duration of contracture, the rates of rise and decay of tension depended on the level of depolariz...

Considering the anti-diabetic potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum (TFG) and its beneficial effect on aortic reactivity of diabetic rats, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of its alcoholic seed extract on aortic reactivity and also figure out mechanisms including the role of adrenergic and angiotensinergic systems in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats were divided in...

The mechanics of a normal ventricular contraction are precise. The cardiac cycle can be divided into the cyclical sequence of systolic ejection, isovolumic relaxation, diastolic filling, isovolumic contraction, and the next systole. This sequence is mediated by a chain of high-energy steps that include the rapid intracellular recycling of calcium ions within the contractile proteins; the timing...

The contractile properties of the urinary bladder are changed by the conditions of normal development and partial bladder outlet obstruction. This change in the contractile phenotype is accompanied by changes in the regulatory cascades and filaments that regulate contractility. This review focuses on such changes during the course of normal development and in response to obstruction. Our goal i...

Dobutamine stress echocardiography has significant advantages in our country due to its wide availability, portability, low cost and safety.This study was conducted with the aim assess myocardial viability by Stress Echocardiography (DSE) before PCI total occlusion of coronary artery.This confirms that a biphasic response dobutamine is highly predictive postoperative recovery regional contracti...

Introduction: Aqueous leave extract of Tridax procumbens (AETPL) is reported to improve erectile functions; however, the mechanism unclear. This study investigates involved in contractile activity corpus cavernosum after AETPL treatment paroxetine-induced dysfunctional adult male Wistar rats.
 Methods: A total 20 rats were categorized into four groups five and treated orally for weeks: Gro...