HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplementary movie files All Versions of this Article: 552/1/119    most recent jphysiol.2003.046243v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pucovsky, V. Articles by Bolton, T. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pucovsky, V. Articles by Bolton, T. B.

Non-contractile cells with thin processes resembling interstitial cells of Cajal found in the wall of guinea-pig mesenteric arteries

Vladimír Pucovsk'y*‡, Ray F. Moss† and Thomas B. Bolton*

Arterial interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)-like cells (AIL cells) with a multipolar, irregular, elongated shape and with numerous thin (often less than 1 µm), sometimes branching, processes with lengths up to ~60 µm were isolated enzymatically from 1st to 7th order branches of guinea-pig mesenteric artery. Some of the processes of AIL cells were growing (average speed ~0.15 µm min^-1) and their growth was blocked by 10 µM latrunculin B, an inhibitor of actin polymerisation. Staining with BODIPY phalloidin, a fluorescent dye selective for F-actin, showed the presence of F-actin in the processes of AIL cells. Voltage clamp of single AIL cells revealed an inward current that was four times more dense than in myocytes and was abolished by 10 µM nicardipine, and an outward current carried exclusively by potassium ions that was reduced by 1 mM 4-aminopyridine and/or 100 nM iberiotoxin but unaffected by 10 nM dendrotoxin-K. Imaging of intracellular ionised calcium with fluo-4 using a laser scanning confocal microscope showed local or global calcium transients lasting several seconds in ~28 % of AIL cells. When membrane current was recorded simultaneously, the calcium transients were found to correspond to long-lasting transient outward currents, which occurred at potentials positive to -40 mV. Unlike myocytes, AIL cells did not contract in response to 1 mM caffeine or 5 µM noradrenaline, although they responded with a [Ca²⁺]_i increase. The segments of intact arteries did not stain for c-kit, a marker of ICCs. Single AIL cells stained positive for vimentin, desmin and smooth muscle myosin. The presence of ICC-like cells is demonstrated for the first time in the media of resistance arteries.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. B. Bolton Calcium events in smooth muscles and their interstitial cells; physiological roles of sparks J. Physiol., January 1, 2006; 570(1): 5 - 11. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.A. Duquette, A. Shmygol, C. Vaillant, A. Mobasheri, M. Pope, T. Burdyga, and S. Wray Vimentin-Positive, c-KIT-Negative Interstitial Cells in Human and Rat Uterus: A Role in Pacemaking? Biol Reprod, February 1, 2005; 72(2): 276 - 283. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Flavahan, S. R. Bailey, W. A. Flavahan, S. Mitra, and S. Flavahan Imaging remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton in vascular smooth muscle cells after mechanosensitive arteriolar constriction Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, February 1, 2005; 288(2): H660 - H669. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. I. Harhun, D. V. Gordienko, O. V. Povstyan, R. F. Moss, and T. B. Bolton Function of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Rabbit Portal Vein Circ. Res., September 17, 2004; 95(6): 619 - 626. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]