Mollie Elizabeth Holman 1930–2010

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 242
Author(s):  
Elspeth M. McLachlan ◽  
G. David S. Hirst
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Electrical Activity ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Autonomic Nerves ◽  
Technical Expertise ◽  
Microelectrode Recording

Mollie Holman was a biophysicist whose work on the autonomic nervous system and the innervation of smooth muscle was seminal in advancing knowledge of its behaviour at a cellular level. She was particularly known for her technical expertise in microelectrode recording of membrane potential from single smooth muscle cells, and the interpretation of their electrical activity, both spontaneous and in response to transmitters released from their autonomic nerves.

scholarly journals Neuronal Modulation of Airway and Vascular Tone and Their Influence on Nonspecific Airways Responsiveness in Asthma

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan J. Canning ◽  
Ariel Woo ◽  
Stuart B. Mazzone
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System ◽  
Vascular Tone ◽  
Autonomic Nerves ◽  
Substantial Body ◽  
Airways Hyperreactivity ◽  
Hallmark Feature ◽  
Reactive Airways ◽  
Airways Hyperresponsiveness

The autonomic nervous system provides both cholinergic and noncholinergic neural inputs to end organs within the airways, which includes the airway and vascular smooth muscle. Heightened responsiveness of the airways to bronchoconstrictive agents is a hallmark feature of reactive airways diseases. The mechanisms underpinning airways hyperreactivity still largely remain unresolved. In this paper we summarize the substantial body of evidence that implicates dysfunction of the autonomic nerves that innervate smooth muscle in the airways and associated vasculature as a prominent cause of airways hyperresponsiveness in asthma.

scholarly journals TRPC6 regulates phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells through plasma membrane potential‐dependent coupling with PTEN

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 9785-9796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuro Numaga‐Tomita ◽  
Tsukasa Shimauchi ◽  
Sayaka Oda ◽  
Tomohiro Tanaka ◽  
Kazuhiro Nishiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Phenotypic Switching ◽  
Plasma Membrane Potential

Beta-adrenergic actions on membrane electrical properties of dissociated smooth muscle cells

1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (3) ◽  
pp. C423-C431 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Yamaguchi ◽  
T. W. Honeyman ◽  
F. S. Fay
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Input Resistance ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Beta Adrenergic

Studies were carried out to determine the effects of the beta-adrenergic agent, isoproterenol (ISO), on membrane electrical properties in single smooth muscle cells enzymatically dispersed from toad stomach. In cells bathed in buffer of physiological composition, the average resting potential was -56.4 +/- 1.4 mV (mean +/- SE, n = 35). The dominant effect of exposure to ISO was hyperpolarization. The hyperpolarization was apparent in all cells studied and averaged 11.6 +/- 1.2 mV (n = 27). In the majority of the cells, hyperpolarization was accompanied by a decreased input resistance (Rin). Often the change in resistance appeared to lag behind the change in membrane potential. The lack of coincident changes in membrane potential and resistance may reflect a superposition of the outward rectification properties of the membrane on beta-adrenergic-induced increases in ionic conductance. In about half of the cells, an initial small depolarization (3.1 +/- 0.3 mV, n = 14) was accompanied by a small but distinct increase in Rin (12 +/- 2.5%). When membrane potential was made more negative than the estimated equilibrium potential for K+ (EK) by injection of current, ISO also produced biphasic effects, an initial hyperpolarization which reversed to a sustained depolarization to a value (-90 mV) near the estimated EK. The hyperpolarization by ISO could be diminished in a time-dependent manner by previous exposure to ouabain. The inhibition by ouabain, however, appeared to be a fortuitous result of glycoside-induced positive shifts in EK. These observations indicate that the dominant electrophysiological effect of beta-adrenergic stimuli is to hyperpolarize the cell membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electrical activity of small intestinal smooth muscle and its temperature dependence

1975 ◽  
Vol 229 (5) ◽  
pp. 1268-1276 ◽  
Author(s):  
TY El-Sharkawy ◽  
EE Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Electrical Activity ◽  
Temperature Dependence ◽  
Intestinal Smooth Muscle ◽  
Plateau Phase ◽  
Control Activity ◽  
Electrical Control ◽  
Electrical Control Activity ◽  
Small Intestinal

Some important features of the intracellularly recorded electrical control activity of rabbit jejunal smooth muscle and its temperature dependence are reported in this study. This activity consisted of repetitive 18-mV depolarizations (control potentials (CP) or slow waves), which at 37degreesC lasted 2 s and had a frequency of 18/min and arose from a membrane potential of --55 mV. In some cells periods between CP's exhibited "diastolic" progressive depolarizations (intercontrol-potential depolarization), which may be the trigger of the CP in driving cells. While CP was usually monophasic, some cells persistently exhibited a notch early in the plateau phase. We suggest that CP consists of two components, an "initial depolarization" and a "secondary depolarization," which are usually fused together to give a monophasic potential. Cooling reduced CP frequency and prolonged its duration and caused more cells to show notching. While amplitude and rate of CP initial depolarization had low Q10's, duration and rates of onset and offset of the secondary depolarization had higher Q10's. Thus, the process responsible for secondary depolarization is more sensitive to temperature thant that underlying initial depolarization of the CP.

Role of HERG-like K+ currents in opossum esophageal circular smooth muscle

1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (6) ◽  
pp. C1284-C1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid I. Akbarali ◽  
Hemant Thatte ◽  
Xue Dao He ◽  
Wayne R. Giles ◽  
Raj K. Goyal
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Circular Muscle ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Circular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Inward Currents

An inwardly rectifying K+ conductance closely resembling the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) current was identified in single smooth muscle cells of opossum esophageal circular muscle. When cells were voltage clamped at 0 mV, in isotonic K+ solution (140 mM), step hyperpolarizations to −120 mV in 10-mV increments resulted in large inward currents that activated rapidly and then declined slowly (inactivated) during the test pulse in a time- and voltage- dependent fashion. The HERG K+ channel blockers E-4031 (1 μM), cisapride (1 μM), and La3+ (100 μM) strongly inhibited these currents as did millimolar concentrations of Ba2+. Immunoflourescence staining with anti-HERG antibody in single cells resulted in punctate staining at the sarcolemma. At membrane potentials near the resting membrane potential (−50 to −70 mV), this K+ conductance did not inactivate completely. In conventional microelectrode recordings, both E-4031 and cisapride depolarized tissue strips by 10 mV and also induced phasic contractions. In combination, these results provide direct experimental evidence for expression of HERG-like K+ currents in gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells and suggest that HERG plays an important role in modulating the resting membrane potential.

The role of globins in cardiovascular physiology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.C. Steven Keller ◽  
Christophe Lechauve ◽  
Alexander S Keller ◽  
Steven Brooks ◽  
Mitchell J Weiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
In Cells

Globin proteins exist in every cell type of the vasculature, from erythrocytes to endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and peripheral nerve cells. Many globin subtypes are also expressed in muscle tissues (including cardiac and skeletal muscle), in other organ-specific cell types, and in cells of the central nervous system. The ability of each of these globins to interact with molecular oxygen (O2) and nitric oxide (NO) is preserved across these contexts. Endothelial α-globin is an example of extra-erythrocytic globin expression. Other globins, including myoglobin, cytoglobin, and neuroglobin are observed in other vascular tissues. Myoglobin is observed primarily in skeletal muscle and smooth muscle cells surrounding the aorta or other large arteries. Cytoglobin is found in vascular smooth muscle but can also be expressed in non-vascular cell types, especially in oxidative stress conditions after ischemic insult. Neuroglobin was first observed in neuronal cells, and its expression appears to be restricted mainly to the central and peripheral nervous systems. Brain and central nervous system neurons expressing neuroglobin are positioned close to many arteries within the brain parenchyma and can control smooth muscle contraction and, thus, tissue perfusion and vascular reactivity. Overall, reactions between NO and globin heme-iron contribute to vascular homeostasis by regulating vasodilatory NO signals and scaveging reactive species in cells of the mammalian vascular system. Here, we discuss how globin proteins affect vascular physiology with a focus on NO biology, and offer perspectives for future study of these functions.

scholarly journals Identification of a Rhythmic Firing Pattern in the Enteric Nervous System That Generates Rhythmic Electrical Activity in Smooth Muscle

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (24) ◽  
pp. 5507-5522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick J. Spencer ◽  
Timothy J. Hibberd ◽  
Lee Travis ◽  
Lukasz Wiklendt ◽  
Marcello Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Electrical Activity ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Firing Pattern ◽  
Rhythmic Firing

In vitro microelectrode study of the electrical properties of smooth muscle in equine ileum

2001 ◽  
Vol 149 (23) ◽  
pp. 707-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. P. H. Hudson ◽  
I. G. Mayhew ◽  
G. T. Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Longitudinal Muscle ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Layer ◽  
Potential Oscillations ◽  
Longitudinal Muscle Layer ◽  
Membrane Potential Oscillations

Intracellular microelectrode recordings were made from smooth muscle cells in cross-sectional preparations of equine ileum, superfused in vitro. Membrane potential oscillations and spike potentials were recorded in all preparations, but recordings were made more readily from cells in the longitudinal muscle layer than from cells in the circular layer. The mean (se) resting membrane potential (RMP) of smooth muscle cells in the longitudinal muscle layer was -51.9 (1.2) mV, and the membrane potential oscillations in this layer had a mean amplitude of 4.8 (0.4) mV, a frequency of 9.0 (0.1) cycles per minute and a duration of 5.8 (0.2) seconds. The membrane potential oscillations were preserved in the presence of tetrodotoxin. A waxing and waning pattern of membrane potential oscillation activity was observed. Nifedipine abolished the spiking contractile activity of the smooth muscle, did not abolish the membrane potential oscillations but did alter their temporal characteristics.

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