Search results for " muscle contraction."
showing 10 items of 33 documents
Muscarinic receptors, leukotriene B4 production and neutrophilic inflammation in COPD patients.
2005
Background: Acetylcholine (ACh) plays an important role in smooth muscle contraction and in the development of airway narrowing; preliminary evidences led us to hypothesize that ACh might also play a role in the development of airways inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: We evaluated the concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in induced sputum, and the expression of Ach M1, M2, and M3 receptors in sputum cells (SC) obtained from 16 patients with COPD, 11 smokers, and 14 control subjects. The SC were also treated with ACh and the production of LTB4 assessed in the presence or absence of a muscarinic antagonist (oxitropium). In blood monocytes, we evaluate…
Bradykinin Contracts Rat Urinary Bladder Largely Independently of Phospholipase C
2014
Several receptor systems in the bladder causing detrusor smooth muscle contraction stimulate phospholipase C (PLC). PLC inhibition abolishes bladder contraction via P2Y6 but not that via M3 muscarinic receptors, indicating a receptor-dependent role of PLC. Therefore, we explored the role of PLC in rat bladder contraction by bradykinin. The PLC inhibitor U 73,122 [1-(6-[([17β]-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5[10]-trien-17-yl)-amino]hexyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione] did not affect the bradykinin response to a significantly greater degree than its inactive analog U 73,343 [10 μM each; 1-(6-[-([17β]-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5[10]-trien-17-yl)-amino]hexyl)-2,5-pyrrolidinedione], whereas the phospholipase D inhibitor b…
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 …
Effects ofThymus species extracts on rat duodenum isolated smooth muscle contraction
1989
The diethylether, ethylacetate and butanolic extracts from Thymus webbianus and Thymus leptophyllus were tested for spasmolytic activity. Pre-incubation of the isolated rat duodenum with these extracts for 10 min produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of acetylcholine-induced contractions. This effect was at least ten times greater with the apolar extracts than with the polar extracts.
Relaxant effects of antidepressants on human isolated mesenteric arteries
1999
Aims The therapeutic action of tricyclic agents may be accompanied by unwanted effects on the cardiovascular system. The evidence for the effects on vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle comes from animal studies. Whether these studies can be extrapolated to human vessels remains to be determined. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the influence of amitriptyline, nortriptyline and sertraline on the contractile responses of human isolated mesenteric arteries to electrical field stimulation, noradrenaline and potassium chloride. Methods Arterial segments (lumen diameter 0.8–1.2 mm) were obtained from portions of the human omentum during the course of 41 abdominal operat…
Effect of angular velocity on soleus and medial gastrocnemius H-reflex during maximal concentric and eccentric muscle contraction.
2009
At rest, the H-reflex is lower during lengthening than shortening actions. During passive lengthening, both soleus (SOL) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) H-reflex amplitudes decrease with increasing angular velocity. This study was designed to investigate whether H-reflex amplitude is affected by angular velocity during concentric and eccentric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Experiments were performed on nine healthy men. At a constant angular velocity of 60 degrees /s and 20 degrees /s, maximal H-reflex and M-wave potentials were evoked at rest (i.e., H(max) and M(max), respectively) and during concentric and eccentric MVC (i.e., H(sup) and M(sup), respectively). Regardless of the muscl…
The effects of metoclopramide on acetylcholine release and on smooth muscle response in the isolated guinea-pig ileum
1982
The effects of metoclopramide on smooth muscle contraction and on release of acetylcholine were studied in the guinea-pig myenteric plexus longitudinal muscle preparation. Acetylcholine was determined either as endogenous acetylcholine, or as labelled transmitter from strips preloaded with 3H-choline. Metoclopramide caused an increase in resting tension of longitudinal muscle as well as an increase in resting output of either endogenous or labelled acetylcholine. Tetrodotoxin abolished the metoclopramide-evoked increase in transmitter release. The increase in smooth muscle tension was clearly related to the increase in resting output. The effects of metoclopramide on both longitudinal muscl…
Inhibitory influence of chromogranin A N-terminal fragment (vasostatin-1) on the spontaneous contractions of rat proximal colon
2005
Very little is known about the role played by CGA and its fragments in the gastrointestinal physiology. We have studied the role of CGA N-terminal fragments in the regulation of intestinal smooth muscle contractility by measuring the influence of recombinant CGA 1-78 (VS-1) and synthetic CGA 7-57 peptides on the spontaneous mechanical activity of rat proximal colon in vitro. The mechanical activity was recorded as changes in the intraluminal pressure. VS-1 (0.1-30 nM) and CGA 7-57 (10-300 nM) produced concentration-dependent inhibitory effects, characterized by a progressive decrease in the mean amplitude of circular muscle spontaneous contractions, without affecting the resting tone. The r…
Might as well jump: Sound affects muscle activation in skateboarding
2014
The aim of the study is to reveal the role of sound in action anticipation and performance, and to test whether the level of precision in action planning and execution is related to the level of sensorimotor skills and experience that listeners possess about a specific action. Individuals ranging from 18 to 75 years of age - some of them without any skills in skateboarding and others experts in this sport - were compared in their ability to anticipate and simulate a skateboarding jump by listening to the sound it produces. Only skaters were able to modulate the forces underfoot and to apply muscle synergies that closely resembled the ones that a skater would use if actually jumping on a ska…
Two types of neuronal muscarine receptors modulating acetylcholine release from guinea-pig myenteric plexus
1985
Longitudinal muscle strips of the guinea-pig ileum were incubated with [3H]choline and the effects of muscarinic agonists on smooth muscle contraction and on spontaneous and electrically-evoked outflow of tritium were studied. Muscarine and pilocarpine concentration-dependently increased both muscle contraction and spontaneous outflow of [3H]ACh, and inhibited the electrically-evoked outflow of [3H]ACh. The increase in spontaneous outflow was prevented by tetrodotoxin and scopolamine, but not by hexamethonium. Oxotremorine (1-100 microM) did not increase the spontaneous outflow of tritium. Pirenzepine in concentrations of 10 and 100 nM hardly affected the muscle contractions induced by pilo…