Biomaterial Database

Relaxation of tetanised smooth muscle of canine saphenous vein. 1981

N L Stephens, and V A Claes, and D L Brutsaert

Since vascular filling depends on the cross-sectional area of the venous bed and since this is determined by the state of relaxation of the mural smooth muscle, we have studied load bearing capacity during relaxation of the smooth muscle of canine saphenous vein. The effect of load on the time course of relaxation was analysed either by comparing afterloaded contractions against various loads or by imposing abrupt alterations in load (load clamps). Unlike mammalian cardiac muscle in which relaxation was reported sensitive to loading conditions, relaxation in the smooth muscle of the saphenous vein was largely independent of loading conditions. In this it resembled frog heart muscle. This type of relaxation, which is not influenced by manipulation of loading conditions, has been termed "inactivation-dependent" relaxation. It appears to operate in muscle tissue in which the calcium sequestering apparatus is poorly developed and sequestration or some process downstream to it appears to be the rate limiting step during relaxation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009126	Muscle Relaxation	That phase of a muscle twitch during which a muscle returns to a resting position.	Muscle Relaxations,Relaxation, Muscle,Relaxations, Muscle
D009131	Muscle, Smooth, Vascular	The nonstriated involuntary muscle tissue of blood vessels.	Vascular Smooth Muscle,Muscle, Vascular Smooth,Muscles, Vascular Smooth,Smooth Muscle, Vascular,Smooth Muscles, Vascular,Vascular Smooth Muscles
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012501	Saphenous Vein	The vein which drains the foot and leg.	Saphenous Veins,Vein, Saphenous,Veins, Saphenous
D013314	Stress, Mechanical	A purely physical condition which exists within any material because of strain or deformation by external forces or by non-uniform thermal expansion; expressed quantitatively in units of force per unit area.	Mechanical Stress,Mechanical Stresses,Stresses, Mechanical