Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Function [Paperback]

In book the role of Ca2+ and other signaling pathways of Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contraction will be discussed. VSM contraction plays an important role in the regulation of vascular resistance and blood pressure, and its dysregulation may lead to vascular diseases such as hypertension and coronary artery disease. Under physiological conditions, agonist activation of VSM results in an initial phasic contraction followed by a tonic contraction. The initial agonist-induced contraction is generally believed to be due to Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores. Although VSM is unique in that it can sustain contraction with minimal energy expense, the mechanisms involved in the maintained VSM contraction are not clearly understood.