title: Neurotransmitter noradrenaline downregulate cytoskeletal protein expression of VSMCs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the effects of noradrenaline (NA) on cytoskeletal protein expression of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  VSMCs were isolated from rat aortic tissue and cultured. The cultured VSMCs were divided into 4 experimental groups: (1) control group, (2) NA treatment group, (3) starvation group, and (4) NA treatment+starvation group. The expression of cytoskeletal protein (smooth muscle α-actin, β-tubulin and desmin) was evaluated by (i) Coomassie blue staining, (ii) immunofluorescent staining, and (iii) RT-PCR and Western Blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NA treatment significantly downregulated the expression of SM α-actin, β-tubulin and desmin (P<0.05). The serum starvation did not affect the expression of cytoskeletal protein (SM α-actin, β-tubulin and desmin), but when the cells were treated with the combination of NA and serum starvation, the expression of SM α-actin, β-tubulin and desmin were down-regulated than those of the serum starvation group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that NA might play a key role in regulating the cytoskeletal protein expression of VSMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: YanMei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yirong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: MinChen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaochun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Kaiyun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003893:Desmin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013217:Starvation; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014661:Vasoconstriction
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D003893:Desmin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014404:Tubulin; D009638:Norepinephrine