Calcium Sparks in Vascular Smooth Muscle: Relaxation Regulators

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 270; no. 5236; pp. 588 - 589
• Main Author: Fay, Fredric S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 27.10.1995; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure; Blood vessels; Calcium; Calcium (Nutrient); Calcium - metabolism; Calcium activated potassium channels; Calcium Channels - metabolism; Calcium in the body; Calcium, Dietary; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell membranes; Cell regulation; Cellular biology; Cellular control mechanisms; Cerebral Arteries - physiology; Cytoplasm; Dilatation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Membrane Potentials; Muscle Proteins - metabolism; Muscle Relaxation; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - metabolism; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - physiology; Muscular system; Myocardium; Perspectives; Physiological regulation; Potassium Channels - metabolism; Protein Kinases - metabolism; Rats; Receptors; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum - metabolism; Smooth muscle; Smooth muscle myocytes; Striated muscle. Tendons; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilation; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system; Muscular relaxation; Vasomotricity; Calcium; Electrophysiology; Smooth muscle; Review; Ionic current; Membrane potential; Outward current; Vasodilation
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.270.5236.588

Several smooth muscle cells exhibit spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) on a periodic basis. Researchers are now looking at Ca2positive sparks in an effort to understand how STOCs are generated.