The purpose of this study was to gain more information on the structure of different layers of renal arteryand comparing these structures in post-natal male and female sheep. To do so, right and left renal arteries of6 adult and 6 newborn animals were dissected; the middle parts of arteries were only collected. After tissueprocessing using paraffin embedding method, 5–6-μm sections were cut and...

Although multiple forms of myosin in cardiac and skeletal muscles have been identified, it has not been firmly established that myosin isozymes are present in adult smooth muscle. Myosin, extracted from human thoracic aorta and lower saphenous vein and rabbit aorta and uterus, was analyzed by pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis to determine if myosin isozymes are present in these tissues. In all ...

the purpose of this study was to gain more information on the structure of different layers of renal arteryand comparing these structures in post-natal male and female sheep. to do so, right and left renal arteries of6 adult and 6 newborn animals were dissected; the middle parts of arteries were only collected. after tissueprocessing using paraffin embedding method, 5–6-μm sections were cut and...

The expression of nearly all smooth muscle genes are controlled by serum response factor binding sites in their promoter regions. However, SRF alone is not sufficient for regulating smooth muscle cell development. It associates with other cardiovascular specific cofactors to regulate smooth muscle gene expression. Previously, we showed that the transcription co-factor CRP2 was a regulator of sm...

AIM To explore this hypothesis that smooth muscle cells may be capable of acquiring a myofibroblastic phenotype, we have studied the expression of smoothelin in fibrotic conditions. METHODS Normal liver tissue (n = 3) was obtained from macroscopically normal parts of hepatectomy, taken at a distance from hemangiomas. Pathological specimens included post-burn cutaneous hypertrophic scars (n = ...

Smooth muscle produces as much stress as skeletal muscle with less myosin. To determine if the actin isoforms specific to smooth muscle contribute to the enhanced force generation, the motility of actin filaments from smooth and skeletal muscle were compared in an in vitro assay in which single fluorescently labeled actin filaments slide over a myosin-coated coverslip. No difference was observe...

Abnormal airway smooth muscle function can contribute to cystic fibrosis (CF) airway disease. We previously found that airway smooth muscle from newborn CF pigs had increased basal tone, an increased bronchodilator response, and abnormal calcium handling. Since CF pigs lack airway infection and inflammation at birth, these findings suggest intrinsic airway smooth muscle dysfunction in CF. In th...