In central nervous system (CNS), pericytes have been proposed to play a role in broad
functional activities including blood–brain barrier, microcirculation, and macrophage activity.
However, contractile responses and Ca2+ signaling in CNS pericytes have not been
elucidated. The aim of the present study is to investigate contractility and Ca2+ influx
pathway in CNS pericytes. CNS pericytes were cultured from rat brain. Contraction of the
pericytes in response to various stimuli was evaluated by the change in surface area …