As we know mechanical stretch plays a critical role in vascular remodeling during hypertension.so i wanted to know how mechanical stretch affect the functions of ion channels of vascular smooth muscle cells.
The effect of mechanical stress on L-type Ca currents (and presumably BK channels) in vascular smooth muscle cells appears associated with their cytoskeletal stability. This current becomes inhibited in a dose-dependent way by treatment with cytochalasin D and colchicine, which most likely disrupts both actin filaments and microtubules. Please see Nakamura M et al. Amer J Cell Physiol 279: C 480-487, 2000.
It seems quite interesting that in above-cited paper, non-selective channel activity disappears after a round of cyclic stress whilst remaining enhanced that of BKCa channels.