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

构成动物身体的固体组织由被称为细胞外基质的结缔组织连接在一起的细胞组成。这种基质使组织保持其形状，并防止它们被拉伸或撕裂等外力破坏。细胞外基质在平滑肌组织中尤为重要。这种类型的肌肉负责通过消化道运输食物，接生婴儿，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)之间的连接承载着数十亿个肌肉细胞施加的力。当单个细胞收缩时，基质将它们的力量结合成整体肌肉反应，使其在体内发挥作用。尽管它们的重要性相对较少，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。当基质的完整性被破坏时，可能会导致功能的变化。在这项研究中，来自(狗和大鼠)气管和子宫的平滑肌组织基质将受到酶的作用或改变其物理结构的自然过程。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。对实验数据的数学分析将提供平滑肌肉功能的总体图景。更多地了解细胞和整体肌肉功能之间的联系将有助于更好地理解重要过程，如分娩和分娩、呼吸控制和其他重要功能，并将使我们对日常生活中许多基于肌肉的过程有更深入的了解。

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.