Role of the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum in Smooth Muscle Novartis Foundation Symposia Series

Smooth muscle contraction is a vital component of the functioning of blood vessels, the uterus, airways and the bladder. Its malfunction can lead to serious pathological conditions, such as hypertension and pre-term labour. The calcium ion plays a central role in smooth muscle function, increasing in concentration for contraction and decreasing for relaxation. Calcium entry into the cell is facilitated by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR).

This book explores the latest research on the role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in smooth muscle function. It examines the control and modulation of the SR and how this may vary among smooth muscle types. Potential therapeutic implications are also discussed.

• Discusses new and exciting work in this area and identifies promising new research directions.
• Considers the advances in this relatively unexplored field, offering new insights into the role of the SR muscle.
• Brings together contributions from key workers, both in basic and clinical science, whose studies range from physiological to pathological and molecular to whole animal.

Chair's introduction (David Eisner).

Role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in uterine smooth muscle (Susan Wray, Sajeera Kupittayanant and Tony Shmigol).
Discussion.

Relationship between the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane (Cheng-Han Lee, Damon Poburko, Kuo-Hsing Kuo, Chun Seow and Cornelis van Breemen).
Discussion.

General discussion I The role of calmodulin in smooth muscle contraction.

Ca?2+ signalling and Ca?2+-activated K?+ channels in smooth muscle (John G. McCarron, Karen N. Bradley and Thomas C. Muir).
Discussion.

Additional fluxes of activator Ca?2+ accompanying Ca?2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum triggered by InsP3-mobilizing agonists (Luc Raeymaekers, Bernd Nilius, Thomas Voets, Ludwig Missiaen, Kurt Van Baelen, Jo Vanoevelen and Frank Wuytack).
Discussion.

Molecular candidates for capacitative and non-capacitative Ca?2+ entry in smooth muscle (Ryuji Inoue and Yasuo Mori).

Regulation of Ca?2+ entry pathways by both limbs of the phosphoinositide pathway (Colin W. Taylor).
Discussion.

Calcium release by ryanodine receptors in smooth muscle (M. I. Kotlikoff, Yong-Xiao Wang, Hong-Bo Xin and Guanju Ji).
Discussion.

Organization of Ca?2+ stores in vascular smooth muscle: functional implications (Mordecai P. Blaustein, Vera A. Golovina, Hong Song, Jacqueline Choate, Lubomira Lencesova, Shawn W. Robinson, and W. Gil Wier).
Discussion.

Molecular basis and physiological functions of dynamic Ca?2+ signalling in smooth muscle cells (Masamitsu Iino).
Discussion.

Calcium release events in excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle (T. B. Bolton, D. V. Gordienko, V. Pucovsk?, S. Parsons and O. Povstyan).
Discussion.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum, calcium waves and myometrial signalling (Roger C. Young).
Discussion.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum and membrane currents (Gerald M. Herrera and Mark T. Nelson).
Discussion.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum function and contractile consequences in ureteric smooth muscles (Theodor Burdyga and Susan Wray).
Discussion.

General discussion II The physiological significance of smooth muscle Ca?2+ stores.

The sarcoplasmic reticulum and smooth muscle function: evidence from transgenic mice (R. J. Paul, G. E. Shull and E. G. Kranias).
Discussion.

The sarcoplasmic reticulum in disease and smooth muscle dysfunction: therapeutic potential (A. F. Brading).
Discussion.

The sarcoplasmic reticulum: then and now (Andrew P. Somlyo and Avril V. Somlyo).
Discussion.

Final General Discussion.

Index of Contributors.

Subject Index.

Derek J. Chadwick and Jamie A. Goode are editors for Role of the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum in Smooth Muscle and other scientific titles.