BACKGROUND Halothane and other volatile anesthetics relax airway smooth muscle in part by decreasing the amount of force produced for a particular intracellular calcium concentration (the Ca2+ sensitivity) during muscarinic receptor stimulation. In this study, ketamine, propofol, and midazolam were evaluated to determine whether the inhibitory effect of volatile anesthetics on this signal trans...

Background: Halothane and other volatile anesthetics relax airway smooth muscle in part by decreasing the amount of force produced for a particular intracellular calcium concentration (the Ca sensitivity) during muscarinic receptor stimulation. In this study, ketamine, propofol, and midazolam were evaluated to determine whether the inhibitory effect of volatile anesthetics on this signal transd...

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...

Nerve growth factor (NGF), a member of the neurotrophin family, enhances synthesis of neuropeptides in sensory and sympathetic neurons. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of NGF on airway responsiveness and determine whether these effects are mediated through synthesis and release of substance P (SP) from the intrinsic airway neurons. Ferrets were instilled intratracheally with NGF...

BACKGROUND Airway smooth muscle contraction is critical for maintenance of appropriate airway tone, and has been implicated in asthma pathogenesis. Smooth muscle contraction requires an "engine" (myosin activation) and a "transmission system" (actin cytoskeletal remodeling). However, the mechanisms that control actin remodeling in smooth muscle are not fully elucidated. The adapter protein Crk-...