Attachment Substrates for Smooth Muscle Cells

The smooth muscle cell is the sole cell type present in the media of blood vessels and its morphological, biochemical, and functional properties have been described in considerable detail [8]. It originates from mesenchymal cells in the embryo and has initially a fibroblast-like structure with widespread cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, a large Golgi complex, and a poorly developed myofilamentous system. Accordingly, its main functions during vasculogenesis are to proliferate and to produce extracellular matrix components. As the vessels approach their final size, these activities cease and the smooth muscle cell becomes a highly specialized contractile cell with a cytoplasm largely occupied by actin and myosin filaments [14, 87].