title: [Bone and Calcium Research Update 2015. Role of calcium in the regulation of smooth muscle function].
abstract: The vascular smooth muscle plays a physiological role in the regulation of the organ blood flow and blood pressure by modulating vascular resistance. The contraction of vascular smooth muscle is regulated by both Ca2+ signal and changes in the sensitivity of the contractile apparatus to Ca2+. The influx of the extracellular Ca2+ and the release of Ca2+ from the intracellular store sites play an important role in generating Ca2+ signal. The regulation of activity of myosin light chain phosphatase plays a critical role in regulating the myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. It is conceivable that any contractile stimulants or vasorelaxant agents exert their vascular effects by affecting either Ca2+ signal or myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D043263:Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043263:Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium