Smooth muscle cell cultures are used frequently to investigate the cellular mechanisms of contraction. We tested the hypothesis that cell culture alters the expression of select cell-signaling proteins of excitation-contraction coupling in colon smooth muscle cells without altering the contractile phenotype. We used muscularis externa (ME) tissues, freshly dispersed cells (FC), primary cell cul...

In the embryo, hypoxemia causes redistribution of cardiac output from the periphery toward the heart and the brain. In view of this, we investigated developmental changes in the contractile and relaxing properties of the peripheral femoral artery (Fem) and the more central carotid artery (Car) at 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 of the chicken embryo incubation time. Isolated arteries were studied in myograph...

Hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress is assumed to be involved in vasospasm of cerebral arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage. In order to study underlying mechanisms the effects of H2O2 and tert butylhydroperoxide on contractile functions as well as on free radical production of anterior cerebral artery from pig were investigated. The hydroperoxides increased in a similar dose-dependent art...

BACKGROUND Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may induce systemic inflammation and vascular dysfunction. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) modulates various vascular and immune responses. Here we explored whether agonists of the S1P receptors, FTY720 and SEW2871 improve vascular reactivity after CPB in the rat. METHODS Experiments were done in male Wistar rats (total n = 127). Anesthesia was induced by...

BACKGROUND Mesenteric lymphatic vessels (MLVs) from various animal species have been intensively studied. We aimed to establish the viability and basic contractile characteristics of human MLVs maintained in vitro and to determine the reactivity of MLVs with norepinephrine (NE) and substance P (SP) and to compare with the thoracic duct (TD). METHODS AND RESULTS Isolated human lymphatic vessel...

1. In order to discover whether the changes in reactivity are related to the primary cause of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) or are just an adaptation induced by the high arterial blood pressure we tested the contractile response of a visceral smooth muscle from such rats. 2. Longitudinal strips of the fundus from 20 week old male and female SHR and Wistar normotensive (...

In the Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes (TCTSA) it is proposed that on approach to motivated performance situations an individual can respond in a challenge state or a threat state. Challenge and threat states are marked by contrasting patterns of psychological, emotional, and cardiovascular (CV) responses. A challenge state is proposed to maintain or facilitate performance com...

This article gives an overview of recently published literature on the factors that govern SN2 reactivity. By comparing reactivity in solution with that in the isolated gas phase, it has become possible to dissect the contribution of the solvent from that of the intrinsic molecular properties. This has proven to be an extremely important and fruitful step forward in obtaining key knowledge not ...