Hydrogen peroxide constricts rat arteries by activating Na-permeable and Ca-permeable cation channels.

Oxidative stress is associated with many cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and arteriosclerosis. Oxidative stress reportedly activates the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VDCC) and elevates [Ca] in many cells. However, how oxidative stress activates VDCC under clinical setting and the consequence for arteries are unclear.

Effects of an ethanolic extract of mulberry fruit on blood pressure and vascular remodeling in spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Mulberry (Morus alba) has been used in traditional oriental medicine since ages. Recently, it has been reported that mulberry produces hypotensive effects through the eNOS signaling pathway. However, the mechanism underlying the hypotensive effects of mulberry is not entirely clear.

Caveolar remodeling is a critical mechanotransduction mechanism of the stretch-induced L-type Ca channel activation in vascular myocytes.

Activation of L-type voltage-dependent Ca channels (VDCC) by membrane stretch contributes to many biological responses such as myogenic contraction of arteries. However, mechanism for the stretch-induced VDCC activation is unclear. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that caveolar remodeling and its related signaling cascade contribute to the stretch-induced activation of VDCC in rat mesenteric arterial smooth muscle cells.