Colonic Smooth Muscle Cells (CSMC)

Smooth muscle cells known as myocytes, have a fusiform shape and, like striated muscle, can tense and relax. Stretch-dependent K+ (SDK) channels are an important conductance expressed by colonic muscle cells. SDK channels may stabilize membrane potential during dynamic changes in cell length and mediate responses to enteric neurotransmitters. Studies  show that cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha act independently and synergistically to stimulate NOS II expression and enzymatic activity in rat colonic smooth muscle through a mechanism sensitive to inhibition by TGF-beta 1. The colonic smooth muscle cells possess a different subtype of somatostatin receptor from gastric smooth muscle cells.