Single-cell imaging of the Ca2+ influx into bovine endothelial cells occurring in response to an alternating electric stimulus

Anal Sci. 2002 Nov;18(11):1205-8. doi: 10.2116/analsci.18.1205.

Abstract

The electric control of cellular functions via Ca2+ was formerly suggested. From this viewpoint, the involvement of a Ca2+ channel was studied using bovine fetal arterial endothelial (BFAE) cells in which P2X4, an ATP-operated and fluid shear stress sensitive Ca2+ channel, exists predominantly. An electric stimulus (sine wave, 10 Hz, 10 VPP, 30 s) caused a marked influx of Ca2+ into BFAE cells from an extracellular solution. The magnitude of the [Ca2+]i change increased with a decrease in the frequency in the range from 100 Hz to 5 Hz. Regarding the pathway of this Ca2+ influx, single-cell imaging and an ATP depletion experiment strongly suggested the involvement of a pathway different from P2X4. This pathway was thought to be a non-specific one, because typical Ca2+ channel blockers, such as verapamil, Gd3+, and Co2+, could not inhibit the Ca2+ influx.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Calcium Signaling* / drug effects
  • Cattle
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Endothelium / cytology*
  • Endothelium / metabolism*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium