Isolation of single vascular smooth muscle cells from human omental resistance arteries.

Small arteries less than 500 microns make a significant contribution to peripheral vascular resistance. Single vascular smooth muscle cells were isolated from human omental resistance arteries by enzymatic dispersion. The method yielded relaxed vascular smooth muscle cells approximately 120 microns long and 7 microns wide. The cells were studied using whole cell voltage clamp techniques and a number of passive and active membrane properties were described.