title: Mechanical responses of rat vascular smooth muscle cells to rat interferon.
abstract: Mechanical responses elicited by rat interferon (IFN) were investigated in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (RVSMC) in primary culture. IFN induced a dose-dependent reduction in the apparent cell surface area, which was quantitatively comparable to, or even greater than, the response elicited by the alpha-adrenergic agent, phenylephrine. Neither mock-IFN nor rat IFN-neutralized with specific antibodies elicited such a response. The sensitivity of RVSMC to the mechanical effect of IFN was species specific. In addition, the effect of IFN was inhibited by the Ca2+ entry blocker, verapamil.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010656:Phenylephrine; D007372:Interferons; D014700:Verapamil; D002118:Calcium