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Two phenomena may lead to an increase in intracellular calcium concentration of vascular smooth muscle cells: an increase in the permeability of the cell membrane to Ca2+ ions; liberation of Ca2+ ions from the intracellular reservoirs. The calcium channels of smooth muscle are varied. There are two types of voltage operated calcium channels: the fast (T) and the slow (L) channels. The calcium channels activated by extracellular membrane receptors are not voltage dependent. Only the L calcium channels are sensitive to dihydropyridines. The liberation of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum which is the intracellular reservoir of calcium can be controlled by two different mechanisms: a direct mechanism by the influx of Ca2+ into the cell through the voltage-operated channels; by the intermediary of a second intracellular messenger. High conductance calcium channels controlled by cytosolic Ca2+ and by IP2 have been demonstrated on the membrane of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The contraction of smooth muscle may therefore be regulated directly through control of the phosphorylation of the contractile proteins by the intermediary of the systems of adenylate and guanylate cyclase.
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
January 1985,
Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
December 1976,
Nihon Heikatsukin Gakkai zasshi,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
January 1969,
Federation proceedings,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
January 1992,
Advances in experimental medicine and biology,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
January 1981,
Verhandelingen - Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van Belgie,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
July 1979,
European journal of pharmacology,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
October 2006,
The Journal of biological chemistry,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
February 1972,
Nihon seirigaku zasshi. Journal of the Physiological Society of Japan,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
December 1998,
Acta physiologica Scandinavica,
E Honoré, and
B Dupuis
October 1985,
Circulation research,
