Does imatinib mesylate ( Gleevec ) as protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor elicit smooth muscle relaxation in isolated human prostatic tissue?
Imatinib induced prostatic smooth muscle relaxation in vitro. This effect was suppressed by l-NAME and ODQ, showing a dependence on the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway and modulated by the K(ATP) and BK(Ca2+) K+ channels. Our findings suggest that imatinib can augment relaxation of human prostatic tissues by way of a novel ligand-protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathway.
Return of swallowing after dysphagic stroke is associated with increased pharyngeal representation in the unaffected hemisphere, suggesting a role for intact hemisphere reorganization in recovery.