Search results for " Smooth"

Therapeutic targets for overactive bladder other than smooth muscle

2015

For a long time, our concepts of regulation of urinary bladder function in health and disease as well as of the target structures of therapeutics have focused on detrusor smooth muscle cells. However, other structures including urothelium, afferent nerves and bladder blood vessels may also be important in pathophysiology and its treatment.Based on a selective review of literature, we discuss the role of urothelium, afferent nerve fibers and bladder blood vessels in bladder pathophysiology and as targets for treatment.There is solid evidence now that multiple anatomical structures within the urinary bladder contribute to the regulation of its function and hence may be targets for established…

A novel in vitro model for the study of plaque development in atherosclerosis

2006

SummaryFor the study of atherogenesis in vitro, coculture systems have been devised, in which two or more cell types can be cultured in close contact to each other. Herein, we describe a novel in vitro model that aims at the simulation of the morphology ofa normal muscular artery allowing for the study of the initial events in atherosclerosis. Usinga modified fibrin gel as a scaffold for the coculture of endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), we generated an autologous in vitro model with a multilayer growth of SMCs (intima-like structure) covered by an endothelium. The production of extracellular matrix (ECM) could be visualized histologically and verified by (i) ascorbic-…

Subendothelial infiltration of neutrophil granulocytes and liberation of matrix-destabilizing enzymes in an experimental model of human neo-intima.

2008

SummaryIt was the objective of this study to examine the role of human neutrophil granulocytes (PMN) in an in-vitro model of human neo-intima developed for the study of atherosclerosis. Human granulocytes were subjected to a co-culture model of human endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Subendothelial lipid accumulation was achieved by addition of native LDL to the culture medium. Tissue samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and scanning/transmission electron microscopy, and culture supernatants were examined for the presence of interleukin- 8 (IL-8), MCP-1, GRO-α, elastase and matrixmetalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8). Following addition of 2 mg/ml LDL, adherence, transmigration and infilt…

The Participation of the Complement System in Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

1991

Atherosclerosis is a vascular disease of large and medium-sized arteries wherein the tunica intima becomes thickened due to lipid accumulation, mostly cholesterol and its esters, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and increased deposition of connective tissue matrix. A major risk factor in the development of this disease is hypercholesterolemia arising from elevated levels of low density lipoproteins (LDL). The earliest recognizable lesion, which may be a precursor to the fibrofatty plaque, is the fatty streak. It is predominantly composed of monocyte-derived macrophage foam cells, i.e. cells ladened with intracellular lipid droplets. Hence, a fundamental aspect of atherogenesis is the insud…

Small bowel motility: relationship between smooth muscle contraction and electroenterogram signal.

2000

A study is made to correlate the electrical and mechanical activity of the smooth muscle of the small bowel. Bioelectrical signal recording from the intestinal serosa (electroenterogram) comprises a slow wave (SW) and spike burst (SB), though only the latter reflects intestinal pressure. The electroenterogram and smooth muscle pressure are simultaneously recorded in the canine small bowel. Spectral and time series analysis of the electroenterogram are performed to establish those electrical parameters that best reflect intestinal pressure. The results reveal an underlying correlation between the estimated parameters of electrical activity and smooth muscle pressure. In addition, parameters …

P1 and P2 receptors in the rat duodenal smooth muscle

1989

Functional consequences of prejunctional receptor activation or blockade in the iris.

1994

The iris is innervated by nerves of the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory nervous systems. The terminal nerve fibres are endowed with prejunctional receptors which modulate neurotransmitter release. Activation or blockade of prejunctional receptors by drugs may have an influence on iris smooth muscle tone. Several findings are in favour of the hypothesis that prejunctional receptors may be involved in regulation of iris smooth muscle tone and/or pathophysiological events. (i). Release of acetylcholine from parasympathetic nerves of guinea-pig iris sphincter evoked by electrical stimulation is subject to autoinhibition via prejunctional M2 muscarinic receptors, and the release can be…

Non-smooth modelling of billiard- and superbilliard-ball collisions

2008

Abstract A description of billiard-ball collisions using a ‘discontinuous’ model is presented considering a two-step situation corresponding to the ball–ball interaction followed by ball-supporting surface interaction. It is applied to the inelastic impact of a cue ball having arbitrary pivotment and ‘English’ spins against an object ball initially at rest. This formulation provides a simplified approximation to the ‘continuous’ models of impact and considers two different regimes of impact: gross slip, and slip–stick, described in terms of coefficients of friction and restitution. As a result, the angles of scattering of the balls just after the impact (post-collision angles) and when the …

Synthesis of recombinant atrial natriuretic peptide (rANP) using hybrid fusion protein-phage fr coat/ANP (CP/ANP).

1997

Abstract Baumanis, V., I. Jansone, A. Skangals, I. Mandrika and V. Berzins. Synthesis of recombinant atrial natriuretic peptide (rANP) using hybrid fusion protein-phage fr coat/ANP (CP/ANP). Peptides 18(8) 1229–1235, 1997.—Recombinant atrial natriuretic peptide (rANP) was expressed in and isolated from E. coli. rANP was purified using HPLC. Amino acid analysis, partial sequencing, and molecular mass were determined. Fused protein was used to rise polyclonal antibodies and to develop of immunoenzymatic assays of rANP and CP/ANP. Experiments were designed to study rANP effects on isolated rabbit aortic strips and to examine hypotensive, diuretic, and natriuretic activity, as well as renal cre…

Evidence for extrinsic control of oesophageal primary peristalsis.

1985

AbstractThe role of both peripheral and central mechanism in the control of primary peristalsis was studied in pigeon cervical oesophagus.The results from the transection of oesophageal muscular wall and of extrinsic nerves suggest that :i) primary peristalsis is programmed centrally.ii) extrinsic motor input is carried in glossopharyngeal nerves and distributed separately at each oesophageal level through intramural neurons.iii) intramural neurons do not seem capable of propagating the peristaltic sequence irrespective of the central control.