Physiology of vascular smooth muscle in relation to hypertension

A wealth of observations can be found of functional differences between the vascular smooth muscle of normotensive and hypertensive animals. Even the least imaginative investigator can and does find evidence among these findings for his pet theory as to what makes the pressure to up. The theory that we support is that the process is initiated by a deficit of calcium binding sites on the plasma membrane. Because of this the membrane lacks stability and is more permeable to various ions. In the case of vascular smooth muscle the most relevant functional change appears to be the more ready opening of the potential sensitive calcium channel.