- Title
- Synchronization of Ca²⁺ oscillations: a coupled oscillator-based mechanism in smooth muscle
- Creator
- Imtiaz, Mohammad S.; von der Weid, Pierre-Yves; van Helden, Dirk F.
- Relation
- FEBS Journal Vol. 277, Issue 2, p. 278-285
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07437.x
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2010
- Description
- Entrained oscillations in Ca²⁺ underlie many biological pacemaking phenomena. In this article, we review a long-range signaling mechanism in smooth muscle that results in global outcomes of local interactions. Our results are derived from studies of the following: (a) slow-wave depolarizations that underlie rhythmic contractions of gastric smooth muscle; and (b) membrane depolarizations that drive rhythmic contractions of lymphatic smooth muscle. The main feature of this signaling mechanism is a coupled oscillator-based synchronization of Ca²⁺ oscillations across cells that drives membrane potential changes and causes coordinated contractions. The key elements of this mechanism are as follows: (a) the Ca²⁺ release–refill cycle of endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ stores; (b) Ca²⁺-dependent modulation of membrane currents; (c) voltage-dependent modulation of Ca²⁺ store release; and (d) cell–cell coupling through gap junctions or other mechanisms. In this mechanism, Ca²⁺ stores alter the frequency of adjacent stores through voltage-dependent modulation of store release. This electrochemical coupling is many orders of magnitude stronger than the coupling through diffusion of Ca²⁺ or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and thus provides an effective means of long-range signaling.
- Subject
- Ca²⁺ oscillations; Ca²⁺ stores; coupled oscillators; lymphatics; slow waves; synchronization
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/928639
- Identifier
- uon:10403
- Identifier
- ISSN:1742-464X
- Language
- eng
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