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Evidence for a Sliding Filament Contractile Mechanism in Tonic Smooth Muscles of Lamellibranch Molluscs

Nature volume 184, pages 286–287 (1959)Cite this article

Abstract

STRUCTURAL evidence for a sliding filament contractile mechanism in cross-striated muscles is well established1 and is based on the following points: (1) the existence of two kinds of filaments; (2) the existence of bridges between them; (3) the discontinuity of the filaments along the fibril; (4) the constancy of filament-length at different muscle-lengths; (5) the changes observed in the relative positions of the two kinds of filaments as the muscle shortens; (6) the similarity of X-ray diffraction patterns at different muscle lengths. Information about smooth muscles is much less complete, but (1) and (2) have already been demonstrated in the funnel retractor and mantle muscles of the cephalopod Loligo2, and in the pharynx retractor of the gastropod Helix2; and (6) has been shown for several smooth muscles of invertebrates3.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Council Biophysics Research Unit, King's College, London, W.C.2

    JEAN HANSON & J. LOWY

Authors
  1. JEAN HANSON
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  2. J. LOWY
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HANSON, J., LOWY, J. Evidence for a Sliding Filament Contractile Mechanism in Tonic Smooth Muscles of Lamellibranch Molluscs. Nature 184, 286–287 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/184286a0

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