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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Focal Ca2+ Transient Detection in Smooth Muscle
Published on: June 29, 2009
A possibility of substituting Ca2+ by Ba2+ or Mn2+ during the contractile processes of complex stomach smooth muscles
Abstract:
In vitro experiments were carried out on muscle strips from different compartments of sheep complex stomach. The following conclusions were drawn: 1. In Ca2+-free medium containing EDTA (0.5 mM) proximal and antral abomasum preparations are mechanically inactive. The addition of BaCl2 (0.2-1 mM) induces phasic contractions in the rumen and antrum strips. In contrast to the simple stomach Ba2+ causes a significant increase in the tone of the rumen and proximal abomasum preparations. This tonic contraction is verapamil resistant and is completely suppressed by sodium nitroprusside. 2. The Ba2+ effect is not mediated by cholinergic or adrenergic systems. Ba2+ can substitute Ca2+ in generating both phasic and tonic contractions in complex stomach smooth muscles. 3. Compared with the simple stomach Mn2+ (0.2-0.8 mM) influences neither the ACh-induced activity in normal nutrient medium nor the tone of the rumen and proximal abomasum preparations in Ca2+-free solution.
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