Abstract
ALTHOUGH the histology and ultrastructure of smooth muscle cells have been studied extensively there is little direct evidence concerning their mechanical properties. Their small size1,2 and lack of tendon connections have prevented them from being mounted on a myograph, as has been done with striated muscle fibres3. Moreover, their multiplicity and optical properties make it difficult to visualise them in whole smooth muscle preparations. Although isolated smooth muscle cells4–6 can be seen to contract when stimulated, it has not been possible to measure the forces they develop. There are, therefore, still serious doubts about the extent to which the mechanical properties of whole smooth muscle preparations are an accurate reflection of the properties of smooth muscle cells. We have therefore developed a technique to obtain mechanical data from a smooth muscle preparation which only contains about 1,000 smooth muscle cells, and which is thin enough for the cells to be visualised by Nomarski interference microscopy7. This technique provides for the first time the means to study the mechanical properties of smooth muscle cells in situ.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burnstock, G., in Smooth Muscle (edit. by Bulbring, E., Brading, A. F., Jones, A. W., and Tomita, T.), 1–69 (Arnold, London, 1970).
Rhodin, J. A. G., J. Ultrastruct. Res., 18, 181–223 (1967).
Gordon, A. M., Huxley, A. F., and Julian, F. J., J. Physiol. Lond., 184, 170–192 (1966).
Bagby, R. M., Young, A. M., Dotson, R. S., Fisher, B. A., and McKinnon, K., Nature, 234, 351–352 1974.
Fay, F. S., and Delise, C. M., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 70, 641–645 (1973).
Small, J. V., Nature, 249, 324–327 (1974).
Winegrad, S., J. gen. Physiol., 64, 343–355 (1974).
Bevan, J. A., and Osher, J. V., Agents and Actions, 2, 257–260 (1972).
Herlihy, J. T., and Murphy, R. A., Circulation Res., 33, 275–283 (1973).
Murphy, R. A., Herlihy, J. T., and Megerman, J., J. gen. Physiol., 64, 691–705 (1974).
Close, R. I., Physiol. Rev., 52, 129–197 (1972).
Herlihy, J. T., and Murphy, R. A., Circulation Res., 34, 461–466 (1974).
Huxley, A. F., and Simmons, R. M., Nature, 233, 533–538 (1971).
Ashton, F. T., Somlyo, A. V., and Somlyo, A. P., J. molec. Biol., 98 17–29 (1975).
Lowy, J., Vibert, P. J., Haselgrove, J. C., and Poulsen, F. R., Phil. Trans. R. Soc., B 265, 191–196 (1973).
Wilkie, D. R., Muscle (St Martin's Press, New York, 1968).
Ford, L. E., Huxley, A. F., and Simmons, R. M., J. Physiol. Lond., 240, 42–43P (1974).
Julian, F. J., and Sollins, M. R., J. gen. Physiol., 66, 287–302 (1975).
Somlyo, A. P., Devine, C. E., Somylo, A. V., and Rice, R. V., Phil. Trans. R. Soc., B 265 223–229 (1973).
Jewell, B. R., and Wilkie, D. R., J. Physiol., Lond., 143, 515–540 (1958).
Fay, F. S., Cooke, P. H., and Canaday, P. G., in Physiology of Smooth Muscle (edit. by Bülbring, E., and Shuba, M. F.), 249–264 (Raven, New York, 1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MULVANY, M., HALPERN, W. Mechanical properties of vascular smooth muscle cells in situ. Nature 260, 617–619 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/260617a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/260617a0
This article is cited by
-
Vascular smooth muscle-inspired architecture enables soft yet tough self-healing materials for durable capacitive strain-sensor
Nature Communications (2023)
-
Effects of ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate (K-115), a Rho-kinase inhibitor, on ocular blood flow and ciliary artery smooth muscle contraction in rabbits
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology (2017)
-
Dorzolamide-induced relaxation of isolated rabbit ciliary arteries mediated by inhibition of extracellular calcium influx
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology (2016)
-
A method for mechanical characterization of small blood vessels and vascular grafts
Experimental Mechanics (2015)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.