Cytosolic Calcium Oscillations in Smooth Muscle Cells.

In a variety of smooth muscle cells, agonists activating membrane receptors induce oscillations in the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration via an inositol trisphosphate-activated mechanism. Ca(2+) oscillations participate in the control of cell membrane potential and the tone of smooth muscle. There is evidence that alterations in Ca(2+) oscillations modulate smooth muscle responsiveness.