Regulation of the Contractile Cycle in Smooth Muscle

Presenting contemporary opinions in pharmacology, physiology and biochemistry as they relate to smooth muscle function, this text discusses: the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels and the relationship to force in smooth muscle; the smooth muscle cell membrane with emphasis on its ion channels; aspects of the two key regulatory enzymes involved with myosin phosphorylation-dephosphorylation; the molecular basis for pharmacomechanical coupling in smooth muscle; developments in the basic contractile mechanisms involving the crossbridge cycle of tonic and phase muscle; and the role of myosin light chains.