p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent activation of contractility in rat thoracic aorta

The present study was undertaken to determine whether p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase participates in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle contraction by endothelin-I (ET-1) in rat thoracic aorta. ET-1 induced a sustained contraction. In contrast, both the intracellular Ca$\^$2＋/ and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylations were not sustained.(omitted)