Two-photon imaging of endothelin-1-mediated intracellular Ca2Â + handling in smooth muscle cells of rat renal resistance arteries

ET-1-mediated elevation of intracellular Ca2 + is strongly linked to renal microvascular contraction and is crucial for ET-1-induced contraction of SMC. The two-photon imaging of intracellular Ca2 + in intact SMC of rat renal resistance arteries is a powerful technique which allows the detailed ex vivo analysis of intracellular Ca2 + handling by ET-1, an important player in hypertension-related kidney diseases.