Abstract
THE use of multicellular strips to study contractile properties of smooth muscle cells rests on the assumption that properties of individual cells are directly reflected in the behaviour of whole tissues. Both the heterogeneity of the contractile state of the cell population in the intact strip, and the complex interconnections between cells and extracellular fibrous elements, however, must influence measured mechanical properties. Methods for isolating viable single smooth muscle fibres from the stomach of the toad, Bufo marinus1,2 now make it possible to make direct measurements of force generation in single cells. I report here a technique for isometrically measuring the force of contraction of a single isolated smooth muscle cell. The method was used to investigate the kinetics and magnitude of force development in a single smooth muscle cell. The results reveal that the maximum force per cm2 of a single cell is comparable with that of whole tissue. The onset of active force development after stimulation is exceptionally slow. Analysis of this delay suggests that it resides in step(s), perhaps unique to smooth muscle, whereby Ca2+ activates the contractile machinery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bagby, R. M., Young, A. M., Dotson, R. S., Fisher, B. A., and McKinnon, K., Nature, 234, 351–352 (1971).
Fay, F. S., and Delise, C. M., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 70, 641–645 (1973).
Singer, J. J., and Fay, F. S., Am. J. Physiol., (in the press).
Canaday, P. G., and Fay, F. S., J. appl. Physiol., 40, 243–246 (1976).
Bagby, R. M., and Fisher, B. A., Am. J. Physiol., 225, 105–109 (1973).
Herlihy, J. T., and Murphy, R. A., Circulat. Res., 33, 275–283 (1973).
Mulvany, M. J., and Halpern, W., Nature, 260, 617–619 (1976).
Gordon, A. M., Huxley, A. F., and Julian, F. J., J. Physiol., 184, 170–192 (1966).
Murphy, R. A., Herlihy, J. T., and Megerman, J., J. gen. Physiol., 64, 691–705 (1974).
Ashton, F. T., Somlyo, A. V., and Somlyo, A. P., J. molec. Biol., 97, 17–29 (1975).
Fay, F. S., Cooke, P. J., and Canaday, P. G., in Physiology of Smooth Muscle, (edit. by Bulbring, E., and Shuba, M. F.), 249–264 (Raven, New York, 1976).
Fisher, B. A., and Bagby, R. M., Fedn Proc., 33, 435 (1974).
Small, J. V., Nature, 249, 324 (1974).
Rosenblueth, J., Science, 148, 1337–1339 (1965).
Fay, F. S., INSERM, 16–18 July, 1975, 50, 327–342 (1975).
Sandow, A., and Preiser, H., Science, 146, 1470–1472 (1964).
Morad, M., and Goldman, Y., Prog. Biophys. molec. Biol., 27, 257–313 (1973).
Mironneau, J., J. Physiol., 233, 127–141 (1973).
Huxley, A. F., and Simmons, R. M., Nature, 233, 533–538 (1971).
Huxley, A. F., and Simmons, R. M., Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant. Biol., 37, 669–683 (1972).
Julian, F. J., and Sollins, M. R., J. gen. Physiol., 66, 287–302 (1975).
Civan, M. M., and Podolsky, R. J., J. Physiol., 184, 511–534 (1966).
Ford, L. E., Huxley, A. F., and Simmons, R. M., J. Physiol., 240, 42P–43P (1974).
Seidel, C. L., and Murphy, R. A., Blood Vessels, 13, 78–91 (1976).
Hill, A. V., Proc. R. Soc., B 135, 446–453 (1948).
Morad, M., and Okrand, R. K., J. Physiol., 219, 167–189 (1971).
Bremel, R. D., Nature, 252, 405–407 (1974).
Sobieszek, A., and Bremel, R. D., Eur. J. Biochem., 55, 49–60 (1975).
Sobiesezek, A., and Small, J. V., J. molec. Biol., 102, 75–92 (1976).
Aksoy, M. O., Williams, D., Sharkey, E. M., and Hartshorne, D. J., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun., 69, 35–41 (1976).
Wakabayashi, T., Huxley, H. E., Amos, L. A., and Klug, A., J. molec. Biol., 93, 477–497 (1975).
Wakabayashi, T., and Ebashi, S., J. Biochem., 64, 731–732 (1968).
Ebashi, S., Endo, M., and Ohtsuki, I., O. Rev. Biophys., 2, 354–384 (1971).
Huxley, H. E., Biochem. J., 125, 85P (1971).
Weber, A., and Murray, J. M., Physiol. Rev., 53, 612–673 (1973).
Honeyman, T. H., and Fay, F. S., Fedn Proc., 34, 361 (1975).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
FAY, F. Isometric contractile properties of single isolated smooth muscle cells. Nature 265, 553–556 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/265553a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/265553a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Single-cell force spectroscopy: mechanical insights into the functional impacts of interactions between antigen-presenting cells and T cells
Immunologic Research (2012)
-
Force probing surfaces of living cells to molecular resolution
Nature Chemical Biology (2009)
-
Persistent mechanical effects of decreasing length during isometric contraction of ovarian ligament smooth muscle
Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility (1993)
-
Mechanical properties of mammalian single smooth muscle cells II. Evaluation of a modified technique for attachment of cells to the measurement apparatus
Journal of Muscle Research & Cell Motility (1990)
-
Regulation of force in skinned, single cells of ferret aortic smooth muscle
Pfl�gers Archiv European Journal of Physiology (1990)