title: Cellular calcium control in hypertension.
abstract: Membrane mechanisms that are rudimentary to excitation that causes contraction were found to be altered in isolated, single vascular muscle cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared to normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. Even in veins of newborn rats, Ca2+ channel proportions are altered to increase the fractional sustained Ca2+ current, providing more Ca2+ that ultimately signals contractile activation. The increase in Ca2+ in SHR could be visualized as a local buildup just inside the cell membrane, suggesting that the process of uptake and removal of Ca2+ at the periphery of the cell may be insufficient to regulate the increased Ca2+ entry. Ca2+ control alterations by subcellular membranes are of sufficient importance to merit consideration as a primary cause of increased peripheral resistance in SHR.
authors: Chiles Research Institute, Providence Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97213.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hermsmeyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium