We studied the growth-promoting effects of 2 sodium pump-selective cardiotonic steroids, ouabain and marinobufagenin, on cultured cells from vascular smooth muscle (VSMCs) from human umbilical vein and a rat VSMC line, A7r5. Both ouabain and marinobufagenin activated ...

... to lethality. The A7r5 clonal cell line, derived from fetal rat aorta, was used to study the mechanism of PaTX toxicity. A7r5 ...

Phosphatidylinositol metabolism and /sup 45/Ca/sup 2 +/ efflux were examined in a vascular smooth muscle cell line (A7r5). (Arg 8)Vasopressin stimulated the rapid formation (measurable at 1 sec) of inositol phosphates in a concentration-dependent manner. The time course for ...

Smooth muscle cells convert between a motile, proliferative "synthetic" phenotype and a sessile, "contractile" phenotype. The ability to manipulate the phenotype of aortic smooth muscle cells with thin biocompatible polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs) with common surface chemical characteristics but varying ...

Smooth muscle cells convert between a motile, proliferative �synthetic� phenotype and a sessile, �contractile� phenotype. The ability to manipulate the phenotype of aortic smooth muscle cells with thin biocompatible polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs) with common surface chemical characteristics but varying ...

Voltage-sensitive calcium channels play an important role in the excitation-contraction coupling of smooth muscle. Several subunits form the oligomeric channel complex and determine its functional properties. Therefore a differential distribution of the various channel subunits and their splice forms could contribute to the functional specialization of ...

Carvedilol is a non-selective ?-blocker indicated in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. Although the differential pharmacological effects of individual Carvedilol enantiomer is supported by preceding studies, the cellular response to each enantiomer is not well understood. Here we report the use of GC-MS metabolomic profiling to study the effects of Carvedilol enantiomers on vascular ...

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 4A1 has been characterized as the most efficient arachidonic acid omega-hydroxylase catalyzing the formation of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), a potent constrictor of the renal and cerebral microcirculation and a mitogen for smooth muscle cells. We constructed adenoviruses expressing the CYP4A1 cDNA or LacZ under the ...

The measurement of tissue and cell oxygenation is important for understanding cell metabolism. We have addressed this problem with a novel optical technique, called triplet imaging, that exploits oxygen-induced triplet lifetime changes and is compatible with a variety of fluorophores. A modulated excitation of varying pulse widths allows the extraction of the lifetime of the essentially dark ...

The measurement of tissue and cell oxygenation is important for understanding cell metabolism. We have addressed this problem with a novel optical technique, called triplet imaging, that exploits oxygen-induced triplet lifetime changes and is compatible with a variety of fluorophores. A modulated excitation of varying pulse widths allows the extraction of the lifetime of the essentially dark ...

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is released from vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC), after percutaneous coronary intervention and is related with neointimal proliferation and restenosis. Adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), the sulfated prohormone of dehydroepiandrosterone has shown remarkable biological activity against ...

1. The objective of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of the relaxant activity of marrubenol, a diterpenoid extracted from Marrubium vulgare. In rat aorta, marrubenol was a more potent inhibitor of the contraction evoked by 100 mM KCl (IC50: 11.8+/-0.3 microM, maximum relaxation: 93+/-0.6%) than of the contraction evoked by noradrenaline (maximum relaxation: 30+/-1.5%). 2. In ...

The objective of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of the relaxant activity of marrubenol, a diterpenoid extracted from Marrubium vulgare. In rat aorta, marrubenol was a more potent inhibitor of the contraction evoked by 100 mM KCl (IC₅₀: 11.8�0.3 ?M, maximum relaxation: 93�0.6%) than of the contraction evoked by noradrenaline (maximum relaxation: ...

Direct delivery of molecules into the cytosol of live cells is required in many areas of biology and clinical research. Molecules of interest include indicator dyes, biomolecules, and pharmacological agents. In this work we describe continuous delivery of molecules into single cells using a Diffusional Microburet, DMB. The DMB is a pulled glass micropipette with a fine tip that contains a ...

Evidence from contractile, radioisotope ion flux and electrophysiological studies suggest that minoxidil sulfate (MNXS) acts as a K+ channel opener in vascular smooth muscle. This study was designed to examine possible biochemical mechanisms by which MNXS exerts such an effect. Experiments performed in the isolated rabbit mesenteric artery (RMA) showed ...

Connexin (Cx) 43 and Cx40 are coexpressed in several tissues, including cardiac atrial and ventricular myocytes and vascular smooth muscle. It has been shown that these Cxs form homomeric/homotypic channels with distinct permeability and gating properties but do not form functional homomeric/heterotypic channels. If these Cxs were to form heteromeric ...

The present study was performed to elucidate the effects of urea on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Addition of urea (20, 50, 100 mM) to physiological salt solution blunted the vasoconstrictory effect of phenylephrine (by 17, 25 and 30%, respectively) and of an increased extracellular K+ concentration (by 7, 14 and 19%, respectively) without affecting ...

KCNQ4 and KCNQ5 potassium channel subunits are expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells, although it remains uncertain how these subunits assemble to form functional channels. Using patch-clamp techniques, we compared the electrophysiological characteristics and effects of diclofenac, a known KCNQ channel activator, on human KCNQ4 and KCNQ5 channels ...

Humic acid (HA) in well water used by the inhabitants for drinking is one of the possible etiological factors for Blackfoot disease (BFD). In this study, the ability of HA to inhibit cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis in cultured smooth muscle cells (SMCs; A7r5) ...

1. The quaternary derivative of the potent verapamil-analogue, (-)-D888, (qD888, 4-cyano-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[2-(3-methoxy phenyl)ethyl]-N,N,5-trimethyl-1-hexanaminium) was synthesized as a novel membrane-impermeable probe to study the localization of phenylalkylamine (PAA) effector domains on L-type Ca2+ channels. Channel block by qD888 was investigated in smooth ...

1. The quaternary derivative of the potent verapamil-analogue, (-)-D888, (qD888, 4-cyano-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[2-(3-methoxy phenyl)ethyl]-N,N,5-trimethyl-1-hexanaminium) was synthesized as a novel membrane-impermeable probe to study the localization of phenylalkylamine (PAA) effector domains on L-type Ca2+ channels. Channel block by qD888 was investigated in smooth ...

This investigation was designed to determine the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of n-butylidenephthalide (BP) from Angelica sinensis on smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in vitro and in balloon injured rat carotid artery. Treatment of cultured rat aorta SMC-derived ...

Tanshinone IIA is one of the active principles in danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge) widely used in treatment of cardiovascular disorders. We investigated the effect of danshen or tanshinone IIA on blood pressure and its possible mechanisms. An i.p. injection of danshen at 10?mg?kg^?1 significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) ...

... including synthetic and secretory functions and the chemistry of contraction; Relationship of endothelium to smooth muscle; Development of the ...

Given the safety concerns expressed over negative cardiovascular outcomes resulting from the clinical use of rosiglitazone, and the view that rosiglitazone exerts PPAR?-independent effects alongside its insulin-sensitising PPAR?-dependent effects, we hypothesised that rosiglitazone may trigger Unfolded Protein Responses (UPRs) due to disruptions in [Ca(2+)](i) homeostasis within two cardiovascular ...

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hypertrophy and proliferation occur in response to strain-induced local and systemic inflammatory cytokines and growth factors which may contribute to hypertension, atherosclerosis, and restenosis. We hypothesize VSMC strain, modeling normotensive arterial pressure waveforms in vitro, results in ...

BackgroundMigration of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from the media to intima constitutes a critical step in the development of proliferative vascular diseases. To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of vacular SMC motility, the roles of caldesmon (CaD) and its phosphorylation were investigated.MethodsWe have performed Transwell migration assays, ...

... synthesis in vascular smooth muscle. ... MUSCLES, CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, PRODUCTION RATE, INDUCTION SYSTEMS, GLUCOSE ...

Muscle cells produce mechanical force by their contaction. In vertebrates there are three main types: skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle.

Contents: Structural characteristics, mechanisms of contraction, innervation, and proliferation of smooth muscle cells; Metabolic characteristics of smooth muscle including synthetic and secretory functions and the chemistry of contraction; Relationship o...

BackgroundDiminished calcium (Ca²⁺) transients in response to physiological agonists have been reported in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from diabetic animals. However, the mechanism responsible was unclear.Methodology/Principal FindingsVSMCs from autoimmune type 1 Diabetes Resistant Bio-Breeding (DR-BB) rats and ...