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Drugs that block
calcium entry through VOCC will inhibit electromechanical
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coupling-thus the
use of calcium channel blocking agents to relax vascular
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smooth muscle,
thus producing vasodilatation and a decrease in blood
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pressure.
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Cell-type
dependent; for instance, in asthma, Ca2+ blocking drugs are not
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effective in
promoting relaxation of muscle.
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Electromechanical
coupling appears to play a predominant role in phasic
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smooth muscle in
which the membrane potential often displays marked
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oscillations upon
which are superimposed calcium spikes
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The plasma
membranes contain numerous ion channels and the distribution
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and properties
vary among different tissues, contributing to the diversity of
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smooth muscle.
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