Premium
Correlation of tracheal smooth muscle function with structure and protein expression during early development
Author(s) -
Cullen Aaron B.,
Cooke Peter H.,
Driska Steven P.,
Wolfson Marla R.,
Shaffer Thomas H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.20494
Subject(s) - contractility , myosin , gene isoform , medicine , myocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , muscle contraction , endocrinology , anatomy , biology , biochemistry , gene
With increased survival of premature infants, understanding the impact of development on airway function and structure is imperative. Airway smooth muscle plays a primary role in the modulation of airway function. The purpose of this study is to correlate the functional maturation of airway smooth muscle during the perinatal period with structural alterations at the cellular, ultrastructural, and molecular levels. Length‐tension and dose‐response analyses were performed on tracheal rings acquired from preterm and term newborn lambs. Subsequent structural analyses included isolated airway smooth muscle cell length, electron microscopy, and myosin heavy chain isoform expression measurements. Functionally the compliance, contractility, and agonist sensitivity of the tracheal rings matured during preterm to term development. Structurally, isolated cell lengths and electron microscopic ultrastructure were not significantly altered during perinatal development. However, expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms increased significantly across the age range analyzed, correlating with the maturational increase in smooth muscle contractility. In conclusion, the developmental alterations in tracheal function appear due, in part, to enhanced smooth muscle myosin heavy chain expression. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:421–432. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.