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Related Concept Videos

Functions of Smooth Muscles01:23

Functions of Smooth Muscles

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Smooth muscles are an important type of muscle tissue that plays a vital role in the involuntary movements of internal organs. For example, they help regulate the movement of food through the gut and the flow of blood through the circulatory system.
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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.
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Structure and Organization of Smooth Muscles01:13

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Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They  are held...
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Proteins are the building block of life. They are also  the most abundant macromolecules with as many diverse roles in the body. They are part of many structural components that provide unique shapes and structures to animal cells, tissues, and organs. In addition, they also act as biological catalysts and carry out several anabolic and catabolic reactions. Notably, some proteins are chemical messengers and regulate many critical processes, such as metabolism, growth, and development. They...
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Water is the one of the most significant components of the human body; it plays a crucial role in several physiological activities because of its unique physicochemical properties. Importantly, it helps to regulate body temperature and is the chief component of several body fluids.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Isolation of Intrapulmonary Artery and Smooth Muscle Cells to Investigate Vascular Responses
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Role of mPRα (PAQR7) in progesterone-induced Ca2+ decrease in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Yefei Pang1, Peter Thomas1

  • 1Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas, USA.

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology
|August 16, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Progesterone relaxes vascular smooth muscle cells by activating membrane progesterone receptor alpha (mPRα). This reduces calcium levels via mPRα-dependent pathways, impacting cAMP and Rho/ROCK signaling for vasodilation.

Keywords:
VSMCcalciummPRαsignaling

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Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Progesterone's direct action on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induces relaxation via membrane progesterone receptor alpha (mPRα).
  • Downstream signaling events of this mPRα activation remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate progesterone-induced changes in calcium concentrations in human umbilical artery VSMCs.
  • To elucidate the role of mPRα-dependent signaling pathways and Rho/ROCK signaling in progesterone's action on VSMCs.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized acute in vitro treatments with progesterone and a selective mPRα agonist (Org OD 02-0).
  • Employed mPRα and nuclear progesterone receptor knockdown, calcium channel activator (FPL64176), pertussis toxin, cAMP modulators (8-Bromo-cAMP, forskolin), and signaling pathway inhibitors (PD98059, ML-9).
  • Assessed RhoA activity and ROCK phosphorylation.

Main Results:

  • Progesterone and Org OD 02-0 blocked prostaglandin F2α-induced calcium increases in VSMCs, mediated by mPRα.
  • This action involved decreased calcium channel activity, activation of an inhibitory G protein, and downregulation of cAMP signaling.
  • Inhibition of MAPK and Akt signaling, along with reduced RhoA/ROCK activity, accompanied the progesterone-induced calcium decrease and VSMC relaxation.

Conclusions:

  • Progesterone induces VSMC relaxation through mPRα-dependent reduction of intracellular calcium levels.
  • This process involves intricate crosstalk between mPRα, G protein signaling, cAMP pathways, MAPK/Akt, and RhoA/ROCK signaling.
  • Findings reveal novel downstream mechanisms for progesterone-mediated vasodilation.