Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Smooth Muscle Contraction01:25

Smooth Muscle Contraction

Smooth muscle contraction is a complex process vital for various bodily functions, from maintaining blood vessel tension to facilitating the movement of food through the digestive tract. Unlike striated muscles, smooth muscle contraction begins more slowly and lasts longer.
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers01:18

Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium ions are essential to contract smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. They enter these cells through voltage-dependent calcium channels, specifically L-type calcium channels in the cell membrane. These L-type calcium channels are integral to the excitation-contraction coupling process in smooth muscle. When a stimulus is received by smooth muscle cells, their membrane depolarizes. This alteration in membrane potential instigates the opening of L-type calcium channels. As a result,...
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
Structure and Organization of Smooth Muscles01:13

Structure and Organization of Smooth Muscles

Smooth muscle tissue is a type of muscle tissue that can be found lining various vital organs in the human body, including the lungs, blood vessels, digestive tract, and respiratory tract. This type of tissue is responsible for regulating the movements of these organs, playing crucial roles in the functioning of various systems, including the vascular, digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems.
Structure of smooth muscle cell
Smooth muscle cells are spindle-shaped with tapering ends and a...
Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Timing is everything: outcomes of allogeneic HSCT in adults with inborn errors of immunity.

Bone marrow transplantation·2026
Same author

Smooth muscle cell polycystin 1 (PKD1) is dispensable for physiological regulation of arterial contractility.

The Journal of physiology·2026
Same author

Wnts are endothelial cell-derived PKD1/PKD2-dependent autocrine/paracrine vasodilators.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Physiological reviews·2026
Same author

Longitudinal Cocurriculum Incorporating Professional Identity Formation and Well-being.

American journal of pharmaceutical education·2025
Same author

A comparison of cryopreserved and noncryopreserved peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells for autologous transplantation in multiple myeloma: a study from the chronic malignancies working party of the EBMT.

Cytotherapy·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique
07:19

Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique

Published on: February 7, 2025

Cl⁻ channels in smooth muscle cells.

Simon Bulley, Jonathan H Jaggar

    Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
    |October 1, 2013
    PubMed
    Summary

    Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) maintain high intracellular chloride, influencing membrane potential. This review details identified chloride channels in SMCs and their roles in cell function and disease.

    Area of Science:

    • Physiology
    • Molecular Biology
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit high intracellular chloride concentrations.
    • Chloride ion (Cl−) efflux leads to membrane depolarization, impacting SMC function.
    • Previous research utilized electrophysiology, but molecular approaches are now identifying specific Cl− channels.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review recent advancements in identifying various Cl− channels in SMCs.
    • To discuss the physiological functions of these identified channels.
    • To explore the contribution of Cl− channels to diseases affecting SMCs.

    Main Methods:

    • Literature review focusing on molecular biology and electrophysiology studies.
    • Identification of molecular candidates for different types of Cl− channels.

    More Related Videos

    Focal Ca2+ Transient Detection in Smooth Muscle
    17:41

    Focal Ca2+ Transient Detection in Smooth Muscle

    Published on: June 29, 2009

    Exploring Arterial Smooth Muscle Kv7 Potassium Channel Function using Patch Clamp Electrophysiology and Pressure Myography
    11:02

    Exploring Arterial Smooth Muscle Kv7 Potassium Channel Function using Patch Clamp Electrophysiology and Pressure Myography

    Published on: September 14, 2012

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: May 7, 2026

    Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique
    07:19

    Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique

    Published on: February 7, 2025

    Focal Ca2+ Transient Detection in Smooth Muscle
    17:41

    Focal Ca2+ Transient Detection in Smooth Muscle

    Published on: June 29, 2009

    Exploring Arterial Smooth Muscle Kv7 Potassium Channel Function using Patch Clamp Electrophysiology and Pressure Myography
    11:02

    Exploring Arterial Smooth Muscle Kv7 Potassium Channel Function using Patch Clamp Electrophysiology and Pressure Myography

    Published on: September 14, 2012

  • Analysis of functional significance and disease association.

    • Main Results:

    • Multiple Cl− channels, including cGMP-dependent calcium-activated (ClCa) and volume-sensitive channels, are present in SMCs.
    • TMEM16A/ANO1, bestrophins, ClC-3, and CFTR are proposed molecular candidates.
    • These channels play roles in SMC contraction, apoptosis, and proliferation.

    Conclusions:

    • Significant progress has been made in characterizing Cl− channels in SMCs.
    • Understanding these channels is crucial for comprehending SMC physiology and pathology.
    • Targeting Cl− channels may offer therapeutic potential for SMC-related diseases.