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Science 30 January 1976:
Vol. 191. no. 4225, pp. 383 - 385
DOI: 10.1126/science.128819
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Articles

Science, Vol 191, Issue 4225, 383-385
Copyright © 1976 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Crossbridge attachment, resistance to stretch, and viscoelasticity in resting mammalian smooth muscle

MJ Siegman, TM Butler, SU Mooers, and RE Davies

There exist a calcium-dependent resistance to stretch in resting mammalian smooth muscle that is not caused by depolarization of the cell membrane or release of calcium from intracellulr sites. The similarity of the resistance to stretch in the resting state to that in rigor suggests that most, if not all, crossbridges are attached and thus able to resist stretch in noncontracting smooth muscles. When the muscle is stretched the breaking and subsequent reformation of links in nonstrained positions accounts for most of the so-called viscoelasticity, except at extreme lengths.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Adjustable passive length-tension curve in rabbit detrusor smooth muscle.
J. E. Speich, C. Dosier, L. Borgsmiller, K. Quintero, H. P. Koo, and P. H. Ratz (2007)
J Appl Physiol 102, 1746-1755
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A mechanical model for adjustable passive stiffness in rabbit detrusor.
J. E. Speich, K. Quintero, C. Dosier, L. Borgsmiller, H. P. Koo, and P. H. Ratz (2006)
J Appl Physiol 101, 1189-1198
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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