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Journal of smooth muscle research Japanese section

Volume And Issue List
Journal of Smooth Muscle Research
- Vol.53(2017)
- Vol.52(2016)
- Vol.51(2015)
- Vol.50(2014)
- Vol.49(2013)
- Vol.48(2012)
- Vol.47(2011)
- Vol.46(2010)
- Vol.45(2009)
- Vol.44(2008)
- Vol.43(2007)
- Vol.42(2006)
- Vol.41(2005)
- Vol.40(2004)
- Vol.39(2003)
- Vol.38(2002)
- Vol.37(2001)
- Vol.36(2000)
- Vol.35(1999)
- Vol.34(1998)
- Vol.33(1997)
- Vol.32(1996)
- Vol.31(1995)
- Vol.30(1994)
- Vol.29(1993)
- Vol.28(1992)
- Vol.27(1991)

Predecessor

Japanese Journal of Smooth Muscle Research

Journal of Smooth Muscle Research Vol. 53(2017)

Invited Review

Diversity and plasticity in signaling pathways that regulate smooth muscle responsiveness: Paradigms and paradoxes for the myosin phosphatase, the master regulator of smooth muscle contraction

Masumi Eto, Toshio Kitazawa

Released: March 03, 2017

p.1-19

A hallmark of smooth muscle cells is their ability to adapt their functions to meet temporal and chronic fluctuations in their demands. These functions include force development and growth. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the functional plasticity of smooth muscles, the major constituent of organ walls, is fundamental to elucidating pathophysiological rationales of failures of organ functions. Also, the knowledge is expected to facilitate devising innovative strategies that more precisely monitor and normalize organ functions by targeting individual smooth muscles. Evidence has established a current paradigm that the myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) is a master regulator of smooth muscle responsiveness to stimuli. Cellular MLCP activity is negatively and positively regulated in response to G-protein activation and cAMP/cGMP production, respectively, through the MYPT1 regulatory subunit and an endogenous inhibitor protein named CPI-17. In this article we review the outcomes from two decade of research on the CPI-17 signaling and discuss emerging paradoxes in the view of signaling pathways regulating smooth muscle functions through MLCP.

Original

Changes in renal vessels associated with long-term administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in Zucker fatty rats

Kazushige Nakanishi, Yohko Nagai, Tatsuo Akimoto, Nobuaki Yamanaka

Released: March 03, 2017

p.20-30

Background Recently, we showed that long-term angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) administration induced unusual proliferative changes in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of afferent arterioles of the kidneys of Zucker fatty rats (ZFRs). In this study, we investigated renal afferent arteriolar changes induced by the long-term administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) in ZFRs. Materials and Methods Fourteen 6-week-old male ZFRs were divided into two groups (n=14): the ZFR+ACEI group (n=6) was fed a standard diet containing ACEI (Enalapril, 2 mg/kg/day), and the ZFR control group (n=8) for 12 weeks. Blood pressure and proteinuria were examined and morphological studies on kidneys were performed. Results Remarkable proliferative changes in the afferent arteriolar SMCs were frequently observed in the group given ACEI; (66.1 ± 12.9%) compared with the control group (1.77 ± 1.56%, P<0.001). Conclusions It was indicated that long-term ACEI administration induced unusual proliferative changes in SMCs in afferent arterioles of ZFRs. These changes could reduce intraglomerular pressure by narrowing the lumens of afferent arterioles, but they could cause irreversible damage to the arterioles.

Original

Synthetic smooth muscle in the outer blood plexus of the rhinarium skin of Lemur catta L.

Rolf Elofsson, Ronald H H Kröger

Released: March 03, 2017

p.31-36

The skin of the lemur nose tip (rhinarium) has arterioles in the outer vascular plexus that are endowed with an unusual coat of smooth muscle cells. Comparison with the arterioles of the same area in a number of unrelated mammalians shows that the lemur pattern is unique. The vascular smooth muscle cells belong to the synthetic type. The function of synthetic smooth muscles around the terminal vessels in the lemur rhinarium is unclear but may have additional functions beyond regulation of vessel diameter.

Invited Review

Mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of hyper-contractility of bronchial smooth muscle in allergic asthma

Hiroyasu Sakai, Wataru Suto, Yuki Kai, Yoshihiko Chiba

Released: May 03, 2017

p.37-47

Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation are key pathophysiological features of asthma. Enhanced contraction of bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) is one of the causes of the AHR. It is thus important for development of asthma therapy to understand the change in the contractile signaling of airway smooth muscle cells associated with the AHR. In addition to the Ca²⁺-mediated phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC), contractile agonists also enhance MLC phosphorylation level, Ca²⁺-independently, by inactivating MLC phosphatase (MLCP), called Ca²⁺ sensitization of contraction, in smooth muscle cells including airways. To date, involvements of RhoA/ROCKs and PKC/Ppp1r14a (also called as CPI-17) pathways in the Ca²⁺ sensitization have been identified. Our previous studies revealed that the agonist-induced Ca²⁺ sensitization of contraction is markedly augmented in BSMs of animal models of allergen-induced AHR. In BSMs of these animal models, the expression of RhoA and CPI-17 proteins were significantly increased, indicating that both the Ca²⁺ sensitizing pathways are augmented. Interestingly, incubation of BSM cells with asthma-associated cytokines, such as interleukin-13 (IL-13), IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), caused up-regulations of RhoA and CPI-17 in BSM cells of naive animals and cultured human BSM cells. In addition to the transcription factors such as STAT6 and NF-κB activated by these inflammatory cytokines, an involvement of down-regulation of miR-133a, a microRNA that negatively regulates RhoA translation, has also been suggested in the IL-13- and IL-17-induced up-regulation of RhoA. Thus, the Ca²⁺ sensitizing pathways and the cytokine-mediated signaling including microRNAs in BSMs might be potential targets for treatment of allergic asthma, especially the AHR.

Original

Gastric emptying after artificial ulceration in rats: differences due to the site of the ulcer and the effects of prokinetic drugs

Masayuki Uchida, Orie Kobayashi, Kimiko Shimizu

Released: June 23, 2017

p.48-56

Background This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the position of an acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer and the effects of prokinetic drugs on gastric emptying. Materials and Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Acetic acid ulcers were induced either in the region between the fundus and pylorus on the anterior wall of the stomach or in the glandular region on the greater curvature of the stomach to determine whether there were regional differences in the effect of the ulcers. Gastric emptying was evaluated with a breath test using [1-¹³C] acetic acid. In addition, the effects of the prokinetic drugs, metoclopramide and mosapride, on gastric emptying were also evaluated. Results Acetic acid induced ulcers in the region between the fundus and pylorus on the anterior wall of the stomach significantly delayed gastric emptying as compared with control rats, but not the acetic acid induced ulcers in the glandular region on the greater curvature of the stomach. Metoclopramide and mosapride did not improve the delayed gastric emptying even at doses that enhanced gastric emptying in normal rats. Conclusion These findings show that gastric emptying is influenced by the position of the ulcer and the region between the fundus and pylorus on the anterior wall plays an important role in gastric emptying. Moreover, it was found that metoclopramide and mosapride do not improve the delayed gastric emptying caused by acetic acid ulcers induced on the anterior wall in the region between the fundus and pylorus.

Review

Role of prostatic interstitial cells in prostate motility

Richard J Lang, Hikaru Hashitani

Released: June 23, 2017

p.57-72

The prostate is a gland whose secretions contribute to the seminal fluids ejaculated upon activation of autonomic sympathetic nerves. In elder males, the prostate undergoes an increase in stroma mass and myogenic tone, leading to benign prostatic hyperplasia that occludes the proximal urethra and the presentation of various lower urinary tract symptoms that decrease their quality of life. This review summarises the role of prostatic interstitial cells (PICs) in the generation of the spontaneous tone in the prostate. It presents current knowledge of the role of Ca²⁺ plays in PIC pacemaking, as well as the mechanisms by which this spontaneous activity triggers slow wave generation and stromal contraction. PICs display a small T-type Ca²⁺ current (I_CaT) and a large L-type Ca²⁺ current (I_CaL). In contrast to other interstitial cells in the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, spontaneous Ca²⁺ signalling in PICs is uniquely dependent on Ca²⁺ influx through I_CaL channels. A model of prostatic pacemaking is presented describing how I_CaL can be triggered by an initial membrane depolarization evoked upon the selective opening of Ca²⁺-activated Cl^– channels by Ca²⁺ flowing only through I_CaT channels. The resulting current flow through I_CaL results in release of Ca²⁺ from internal stores and the summation of Cl^–-selective spontaneous transient depolarizations (STDs) to form pacemaker potentials that propagate passively into the prostatic stroma to evoke regenerative action potentials and excitation-contraction coupling.

Original

The expression of genes involved in myometrial contractility changes during ex situ culture of pregnant human uterine smooth muscle tissue

Marina Ilicic, Trent Butler, Tamas Zakar, Jonathan W. Paul

Released: June 23, 2017

p.73-89

Background: Ex situ analyses of human myometrial tissue has been used to investigate the regulation of uterine quiescence and transition to a contractile phenotype. Following concerns about the validity of cultured primary cells, we examined whether myometrial tissue undergoes culture-induced changes ex situ that may affect the validity of in vitro models. Objectives: To determine whether human myometrial tissue undergoes culture-induced changes ex situ in Estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression. Additionally, to determine whether culture conditions approaching the in vivo environment influence the expression of these key genes. Methods: Term non-laboring human myometrial tissues were cultured in the presence of specific treatments, including; serum supplementation, progesterone and estrogen, cAMP, PMA, stretch or NF-κB inhibitors. ESR1, PTGS2 and OXTR mRNA abundance after 48 h culture was determined using quantitative RT-PCR. Results: Myometrial tissue in culture exhibited culture-induced up-regulation of ESR1 and PTGS2 and down-regulation of OXTR mRNA expression. Progesterone prevented culture-induced increase in ESR1 expression. Estrogen further up-regulated PTGS2 expression. Stretch had no direct effect, but blocked the effects of progesterone and estrogen on ESR1 and PTGS2 expression. cAMP had no effect whereas PMA further up-regulated PTGS2 expression and prevented decline of OXTR expression. Conclusion: Human myometrial tissue in culture undergoes culture-induced gene expression changes consistent with transition toward a laboring phenotype. Changes in ESR1, PTGS2 and OXTR expression could not be controlled simultaneously. Until optimal culture conditions are determined, results of in vitro experiments with myometrial tissues should be interpreted with caution.

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Successor

Volume And Issue List
Journal of Smooth Muscle Research

Predecessor

Journal of Smooth Muscle Research Vol. 53(2017)

Invited Review

Diversity and plasticity in signaling pathways that regulate smooth muscle responsiveness: Paradigms and paradoxes for the myosin phosphatase, the master regulator of smooth muscle contraction

Original

Changes in renal vessels associated with long-term administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in Zucker fatty rats

Original

Synthetic smooth muscle in the outer blood plexus of the rhinarium skin of Lemur catta L.

Invited Review

Mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of hyper-contractility of bronchial smooth muscle in allergic asthma

Original

Gastric emptying after artificial ulceration in rats: differences due to the site of the ulcer and the effects of prokinetic drugs

Review

Role of prostatic interstitial cells in prostate motility

Original

The expression of genes involved in myometrial contractility changes during ex situ culture of pregnant human uterine smooth muscle tissue

System Maintenance

Announcement From J-STAGE

Journal Tools

Share this Title

Successor

Volume And Issue List Journal of Smooth Muscle Research

Predecessor

Journal of Smooth Muscle Research Vol. 53(2017)

Invited Review

Diversity and plasticity in signaling pathways that regulate smooth muscle responsiveness: Paradigms and paradoxes for the myosin phosphatase, the master regulator of smooth muscle contraction

Original

Changes in renal vessels associated with long-term administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in Zucker fatty rats

Original

Synthetic smooth muscle in the outer blood plexus of the rhinarium skin of Lemur catta L.

Invited Review

Mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of hyper-contractility of bronchial smooth muscle in allergic asthma

Original

Gastric emptying after artificial ulceration in rats: differences due to the site of the ulcer and the effects of prokinetic drugs

Review

Role of prostatic interstitial cells in prostate motility

Original

The expression of genes involved in myometrial contractility changes during ex situ culture of pregnant human uterine smooth muscle tissue

System Maintenance

Announcement From J-STAGE

Journal Tools

Share this Title

Volume And Issue List
Journal of Smooth Muscle Research