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Inflammation of the human intestine causesthickening of the smooth muscle layers, and studies inrats infected with Trichinella spiralis (Tsp) have shownhyperplasia of the intestinal smooth muscle cells (ISMC). We have shown that Tsp-inducedinflammation caused a fivefold increase in total proteinper ISMC over control, while ISMC from the noninflameddistal ileum also showed a threefold increase. The amount of α-smooth muscle (SM) actin perISMC increased nearly 500% over control by postinfection(PI) day 6. The proportion of α-SM actin in thetotal cellular protein increased 200% by day 6 PI, indicating a higher density of α-SM actinin the hypertrophied ISMC. γ-SM actin mRNAincreased sharply and was matched by an increasedfractional content of γ-SM actin protein. Theseincreases in the smooth muscle-specific actins may affectforce production and further demonstrate the plasticityof smooth muscle in the inflamed intestine.