Cell Specification
Smooth muscle is responsible for the contractility of hollow organs, such as blood vessels, the gastrointestinal tract, the bladder, and the uterus. Its structure differs greatly from that of skeletal muscle. The human esophagus contains three layers of muscle in its walls, the outer longitudinal and inner circular layers of the main muscular coat and the muscular layer of the mucosa. Visceral smooth muscle cells makes up all three layers along the entire organ except for the most rostral few centimeters. Smooth muscle contraction is critical to peristalsis in the human esophagus and the contraction may be mediated by activation of phospholipase through two distinct mechanisms (increased intracellular Ca2+ and G protein activation) and activating PKCepsilon-dependent mechanisms [1]. In vitro study also shows that cultured human esophageal smooth muscle cells express voltage-dependent Na(+) channels [2].

HESMC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human esophagus. HESMC are cryopreserved at secondary culture and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10⁵ cells in 1 ml volume. HESMC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin. HESMC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HESMC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings at the condition provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use smooth muscle cell medium (SMCM, Cat. No. 1101) for the culturing of HESMC in vitro.

Product Use
HESMC are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Storage
Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.

Shipping
Dry ice.

Reference
[1]. Cao, W., Chen, Q., Sohn, U. D., Kim, N., Kirber, M. T., Harnett, K. M., Behar, J., Biancani, P. (2001) Ca2+-induced contraction of cat esophageal circular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 280(4):C980-92.
[2]. Deshpande, M. A., Wang, J., Preiksaitis, H. G., Laurier, L. G., Sims, S. M. (2002) Characterization of a voltage-dependent Na(+) current in human esophageal smooth muscle. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 283(4):C1045-55.