TRPM4 has been extensively studied in vascular smooth muscles. One report mentioned a current activated by noradrenalin having permeability for monovalent cations in smooth muscle cells of rabbit ear arteries
[50]. TRPM4 RNA was shown in whole rat cerebral arteries, in smooth muscle cells isolated from those vessels
[51], and also in rat aorta and pulmonary vessels
[52]. Smooth muscle cells isolated from cerebral arteries express the TRPM4 protein
[53][54]. In rat cerebral arteries, TRPM4 mediated pressure-induced myogenic vasoconstriction
[51] in a PKC-regulated manner
[55]. Additionally, basal PKCδ activity increased the cell surface expression of TRPM4, thereby enabling TRPM4-mediated vasoconstriction
[53][56]. In these studies, TRPM4 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides applied with reverse permeabilization technique on isolated arteries proved the role of TRPM4. The use of TRPM4 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides confirmed the role of TRPM4 in in vivo tests, as the suppression of TRPM4 led to decreased cerebral artery myogenic constrictions and impaired autoregulation
[57]. In rat cerebral arterial myocytes, TRPM4 could contribute to membrane stretch-induced depolarization
[58]; although the direct stretch sensitivity of TRPM4 was not confirmed, and it is likely that such a stretch leads to a calcium increase and TRPM4 activation. Furthermore, the functional cooperation between TRPC6 and TRPM4 was indicated
[59], where the stretch sensor type 1 angiotensin II receptor activates phospholipase Cγ1 by Src tyrosine kinase, leading to diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) formation. The stretch activates the TRPC6, which, upon opening, leads to a Ca
2+ influx and further activation of the IP3 receptor. The IP3 receptor co-localizes with TRPM4 in nanodomains
[60], and the release of Ca
2+ through the IP3 receptor was shown to activate TRPM4
[54], leading to depolarization and activation of voltage gated calcium channels, Ca
2+ influx, and smooth muscle contraction. Supporting the functional cooperation, both 9-phenanthrol and the TRPC6 inhibitor larixyl acetate reduced the myogenic tone in mesenteric arteries (developed due to either KO of elastin microfibrils interface located protein-1 or the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) treatment of wild type mice)
[61]. The role of TRPM4 in the maintenance of vascular tone is supported by another study, wherein the TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol led to the hyperpolarization of the smooth muscle cells and vasodilation
[62]. Finally, TRPM4 was implicated in the coupling of P2Y4 and P2Y6 receptor-mediated mechanoactivation and myogenic tone development in cerebral parenchymal arterioles. Later on, the involvement of RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase signaling was confirmed in the process, as the Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor H1152 strongly attenuated, while the RhoA activator CN03 potentiated the pressure-induced constriction
[63]. TRPM4 seems to be involved in the regulation of arterial tone at least in the cerebral vessels of rats, despite the lack of difference in agonist- or pressure-induced contractile responses detected in the aorta or in hindlimb preparations isolated from wild-type or TRPM4 KO mice
[64]. One might argue that the different species are the reason for the discrepancy. Moreover, the systemic KO of TRPM4 can lead to compensatory changes. It must be noted that TRPM4 KO mice were mildly hypertensive, due to the slightly increased catecholamine secretion, which can compensate for the loss of TRPM4-induced smooth muscle contractility. Unfortunately, the reports from rat TRPM4 KO animals
[65][66] do not describe vascular smooth muscle function. In murine cerebral arterial smooth muscle cells, TRPM4 channels are responsible for nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation via inhibition of the PKG substrate-mediated, IP3 receptor-dependent Ca
2+ release
[67].