By some estimates, calcium handling eats up 30-50% of the ATP used in muscle contraction, so a change in calcium sensitivity could indeed explain why nitrate makes endurance exercise more efficient.

Smooth Muscle Contraction and Signaling Mechanisms Publication Trend. The graph below shows the total number of publications each year in Smooth Muscle Contraction and Signaling Mechanisms.

A research group has uncovered important details about how platelet-activating factor (PAF)—a powerful molecule involved in inflammation and allergic reactions—triggers contractions in the smooth ...

The flow of water within a muscle fiber may dictate how quickly muscle can contract, according to a University of Michigan study.