Mechanical Effects of Induced Changes in the Extracellular Matrix of Visceral Smooth Muscle Tissues

内脏平滑肌组织细胞外基质诱导变化的机械效应

• 批准号: 9904610
• 负责人: Richard Meiss
• 金额: $ 24.55万
• 依托单位: Indiana University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-12-15 至 2003-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9904610&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mechanical; Effects; Induced; Changes; Extracellular

IBN 9904610MeissThe solid tissues that make up the body of an animal consist of cells held together by connective tissue called the extracellular matrix. This matrix allows tissues to hold their shape and prevents them from being damaged by external forces such as stretching or tearing. The extracellular matrix is especially important in smooth muscle tissue. This type of muscle is responsible for moving food through the digestive tract, for delivering a baby, for controlling the flow of air in the lungs, and a host of other vital processes. In smooth muscle tissues, the connections from cell to cell and throughout the tissue (the extracellular matrix) carry the force exerted by billions of muscle cells. When individual cells contract, the matrix combines their forces into an overall muscle response which lets it carry out its function in the body.Despite their importance relatively little is known about the details of these connections and how they influence the way a tissue works. When the integrity of the matrix is disturbed, changes in function can result. In this study, the matrix of smooth muscle tissues from the windpipe and uterus (of dogs and rats) will be subjected to the action of enzymes or natural processes that change its physical structure. Precise mechanical measurements will be made of these changes, and electron microscopy will be used to examine the fine details. Mathematical analysis of the experimental data will be used to provide an overall picture of smooth muscle function.Learning more about the links between cells and overall muscle function will allow better understanding of vital processes such as labor and delivery, control of breathing, and other important functions, and it will give added insight into the many muscle-based processes that are necessary for daily life.

IBN 9904610Meiss构成动物身体的固体组织由细胞组成，这些细胞由称为细胞外基质的结缔组织保持在一起。 这种基质允许组织保持它们的形状，并防止它们被外力破坏，如拉伸或撕裂。 细胞外基质在平滑肌组织中尤其重要。 这种类型的肌肉负责将食物通过消化道，用于分娩婴儿，用于控制肺部的空气流动以及许多其他重要过程。 在平滑肌组织中，细胞与细胞之间以及整个组织（细胞外基质）的连接承载着数十亿肌肉细胞施加的力。 当单个细胞收缩时，基质将它们的力量结合成一个整体的肌肉反应，使其在体内发挥作用。尽管它们很重要，但人们对这些连接的细节以及它们如何影响组织的工作方式知之甚少。 当基质的完整性受到干扰时，可能会导致功能的变化。 在这项研究中，来自气管和子宫（狗和大鼠）的平滑肌组织基质将受到酶或改变其物理结构的自然过程的作用。 将对这些变化进行精确的机械测量，并使用电子显微镜检查细节。 通过对实验数据的数学分析，我们可以全面了解平滑肌的功能。了解细胞与整体肌肉功能之间的联系，有助于我们更好地理解生命过程，如分娩、呼吸控制和其他重要功能，也有助于我们更深入地了解日常生活中所必需的许多基于肌肉的过程。