Vascular smooth muscle has the ability to exist in a state of maintain
ed partial constriction. This state of partial activation is initiated
and/or maintained by the mechanical effects of distending pressure ac
ting on the vascular wall. The intrinsic ability of vascular smooth mu
scle to respond to these mechanical forces is referred to as the myoge
nic mechanism. Within the past decade the signaling mechanisms respons
ible for mechanotransduction of myogenic phenomena have been the focus
of extensive research. Two areas of active investigation include (1)
the modulation of membrane ionic conductances by pressure/stretch and
(2) the pressure/stretch - induced generation of second messengers kno
wn to be involved in vascular smooth muscle contraction. This review s
ummarizes recent work aimed at understanding the mechanotransduction p
rocess in vascular smooth muscle.