The largest peripheral blood pressure drop occurs in terminal arterioles (<40 mm lumen diameter). L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) are considered the primary pathway for Ca2+ influx during physiologic activation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Recent evidence suggests that T-type VDCCs are expressed in renal afferent and efferent arterioles, mesenteric arterioles, and skel...

Drugs and solutions All tissues were perfused and maintained with KRB solution containing (mmol/liter): 120.35 NaCl, 15.5 NaHCO3, 5.9 KCl, 1.2 MgCl2, 1.2 NaH2PO4, 2.5 CaCl2, and 11.5 glucose. The KRB solution warmed to a physiological temperature of 37 ± 0.2°C and bubbled with a mixture of 97% O2–3% CO2. For experiments using external solutions with zero [Ca]o, CaCl2 was omitted and 1 mM EGTA w...

Corresponding Author: Atsuya Hikosaka, MD Department of Urology, Toyota Kosei Hospital, 500-1, Ibobara, Josui-cho, Toyota, Aichi 470-0396, Japan Tel: +81 565 43 5000 Fax: +81 565 43 5100 E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Spermatocele, a retention cyst of the scrotum which is or has been in communication with the semen-carrying system,(1) is a relatively common clinical entity. It presents...

In pregnancy, α-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction is augmented in uterine radial arteries and is accompanied by underlying changes in smooth muscle (SM) Ca(2+) activity. This study aims to determine the Ca(2+) entry channels associated with altered vasoconstriction in pregnancy, with the hypothesis that augmented vasoconstriction involves transient receptor potential canonical type-3 (TRPC...

The paper presents a biologically-inspired multi-level neural-schema architecture for prey catching and predator avoidance in single and multiple autonomous robotic systems. The architecture is inspired on anuran (frogs and toads) neuroethological studies and wolf pack group behaviors. The single robot architecture exploits visuomotor coordination models developed to explain anuran behavior in ...

Germinal matrix-intraventricular haemorrhage (GMH-IVH) remains a serious problem in the very and extremely preterm infant. This article reviews current methods of diagnosis, treatment and neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants with low-grade and severe GMH-IVH. We conclude that there is still no consensus on timing of intervention and treatment of infants with GMH-IVH, whether or not com...