• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제45권4호
• /
• pp.231-235
• /
• 2009

Objective : While many factors contribute to aging, changes in calcium homeostasis and calcium related neuronal processes are likely to be important. High intracellular calcium is toxic to cells and alterations in calcium homeostasis are associated with changes in calcium-binding proteins, which confine free $Ca^{2+}$. We therefore assayed the expression of the calcium binding proteins calretinin and calbindin in the central auditory nervous system of rats. Methods : Using antibodies to calretinin and calbindin, we assayed their expression in the cochlear nucleus, superior olivary nucleus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body and auditory cortex of young (4 months old) and aged (24 months old) rats. Results : Calretinin and calbindin staining intensity in neurons of the cochlear nucleus was significantly higher in aged than in young rats (p<0.05) The number and staining intensity of calretinin-positive neurons in the inferior colliculus, and of calbindin-positive neurons in the superior olivary nucleus were greater in aged than in young rats (p<0.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that auditory processing is altered during aging, which may be due to increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, consequently leading to increased immunoreactivity toward calcium-binding proteins.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제1권5호
• /
• pp.565-572
• /
• 1997

In the freshly isolated rat nephron, the effect of endothelin-1, -2 and -3 (ET-1, -2 and -3) on cytosolic free calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) was determined using the fluorescent indicator Fura-2/AM. $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase was investigated in 9 parts of the single nephron including glomerulus (Glm), $S_1,\;S_2,\;S_3$, cortical and medullary thick ascending limb and cortical (CCT) and outer medullary collecting tubule (OMCT). Endothelins increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in Glm (ET-1; $127{\pm}17%$, ET-2; $93{\pm}5%$, ET-3; $169{\pm}17%$), CCT (ET-1; $30{\pm}6%$, ET-2; $38{\pm}19%$, ET-3; $158{\pm}18%$) and OMCT (ET-1; $197{\pm}11%$, ET-2; $195{\pm}11%$, ET-3; $215{\pm}37%$) at 10-7 M. In OMCT, ET-1 and ET-2 increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in a dose-dependent manner ($10^{-10}{\sim}10^{-6}$ M). To the contrary, ET-3-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rise was begun from $10^{-12}$ M. BQ-123Na, an antagonist of ETA receptor, at $10^{-4}$ M inhibited about 30% of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rise induced by ET-1 and -3. Binding experiments using $[^{125}I]ET-3$ showed the existence of $ET_B$ receptor in OMCT. This binding was replaced by ET-1, ET-2 or ET-3 by the almost same degree but not by angiotensin II or vasopressin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제9권1호
• /
• pp.55-62
• /
• 2005

Very little research has been carried out on safflower seed for the prevention and treatment of the bone deficiency diseases, including osteoporosis, which are supported by scientific evidences. In the present study, $3{\mu}l$ of 0.1% dried crude extract or $2{\mu}l$ of 0.1% dried aqueous fraction were shown to significantly accelerate the rate of differentiation of osteoblast. Also, the crude extract and aqueous fraction increased the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of the cultured osteoblast cells: $3{\mu}l$ of 0.1% dried crude extract and $2{\mu}l$ of 0.1% dried aqueous fraction significantly increased the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of the cultured osteoblast cells ($8{\times}10^{-4}$) to the extent that it deserves a considerable attention. Furthermore, the crude extract and aqueous fraction increased the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of the cultured osteoblast cells, and $300{\mu}M$ $Cd^{2+}$, specific calcium channel blocker, completely blocked the increase. Therefore, the increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of the cultured osteoblast cells by safflower seed component continued to activate calcium channel.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제19권7호
• /
• pp.892-898
• /
• 2009

Mifepristone (MIF)은 프로게스테론 유사체이며, 강한 항프로게스테론 효과 때문에 전립선암 치료에 사용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 MIF의 세포독성효과가 세포 내 칼슘농도 조절에 의한 것임을 밝힌다. 5-40 $\mu$M의 MIF를 처리 시 LNCaP 전립선암세포의 성장이 농도와 시간의존적으로 감소하였다. 반대로, 세포 내 칼슘의 레벨은 MIF의 처리시간과 농도도 의존적으로 증가하였다. MIF를 처리한 세포를 PI 혹은 Hoechst로 염색한 결과, 전형적인 세포자살의 징후인 응축된 염색질과 핵 조각단편들이 관찰되었다. 이들 세포자살징후 역시 MIF의 처리시간과 농도가 증가 할수록 심화되었다. 세포자살에 직접적으로 관여하는 중요한 단백질인 Bcl-2 그룹 단백질의 발현을 조사해 본 결과, 세포자살 억제단백질인 Bcl-2의 발현은 MIF처리시 치명적으로감소하였고, 대신에 세포자살 촉진단백질인 Bax의 발현은 2배로 증대되었다. 이상의 결과로 보아 MIF의 세포독성효과는 세포 내의 칼슘조절에 따른 세포자살에 의한 것으로 생각된다.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제43권6호
• /
• pp.809-817
• /
• 1999

The effect of 2-(4-cyanophenyl)amino-1,4-naphthalenedione-3-pyridinium perchlorate (PQ5) on pla-telet aggregation and its action mechanisms were investigated with rat platelet. PQ5 inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by collagen ($6{\;}{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$), thrombin (0.4 U/ml) and A23187 ($3{\mu}M$) in concentration-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ values of 5.50, 25.89 and $37.12{\;}{\mu}M$, respectively. PQ5 also significantly reduced the thromboxane $A_2$ (TXA2) formation in a concentration dependent manner. The collagen-induced arachidonic acid (AA) release in [-3H]-AA incorporated platelet, an indication of the phospholipase $A_2$ activity, was decreased by PQ5 pretreatment PQ5 significantly inhibited the activity of thormboxane synthase only at high concentration ($100{\mu}M$), but did not affect the cyclooxygenase activity at all. Collagen-induced ATP release was significantly reduced by PQ5. Calcium-induced platelet aggregation experiment suggests that the elevation of intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) by collagen stimulation is decreased by the pretreatment of PQ5, which is due to the inhibition of calcium release from intracellular store and influx from outside of the cell. PQ5 did not showed the effect of anticoagulation as prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Form these results, it is suggested that PQ5 exerts its antiplatelet activity through the inhibition of the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization and the decrease of the $TXA_2$ synthesis.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제43권6호
• /
• pp.802-808
• /
• 1999

Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin has been incriminated as one of the important virulence determinants in V. vulnificus infection. In the present study, the effects of Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin on platelets were examined. Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin induced platelet aggregation and increased intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) of rat platelets. These effects were abolished in $Ca^{2+}-free$ buffer (2 mM EGTA). Cytolysin also potentiated ADP-and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Lanthanum (2 mM) inhibited cytolysin-diduced platelet aggregation. However, another $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, verapamil ($20{\;}{\mu}M$) or mefenamic acid ($20{\;}{\mu}M$) did not block cytolysin-induced platelet aggregation. Osmotic protectants, sucrose (50 mM) and raffinose (50 nM) suppressed platelet aggregation by 35.9% and 63.4%, respectively. V. vulnificus cytolysin increased membrane conductances of platelet membranes. These results suggest that cytolysin-induced platelet aggregation is mediated via lanthanum sensitive-calcium influx which resulted from the pore formation by V. vulnificus cytolysin.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제31권5호
• /
• pp.468-474
• /
• 1998

Membrane depolarization in PC12 cells induces calcium influx via an L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel (L-VSCC) and increases intracellular free calcium, which leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and the associated adaptor protein, She. This activated EGF receptor complex then can activate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, as in nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor activation. In the present study, we investigated the role of EGF receptor in the signaling pathway initiated by membrane depolarization of PC12 cells. Prolonged membrane depolarization induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) within 1 min in undifferentiated PC12 cells. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with the calcium chelator EGTA abolished depolarization-stimulated ERK phosphorylation, but NGF-induced phosphorylation of ERK was not affected. The chronic treatment of phorbol ester, which down-regulated the activity of protein kinase C (PKC), did not affect the phosphorylation of ERK upon depolarization. In the presence of an inhibitor of EGF receptor, neither depolarization nor calcium ionophore increased the level of ERK phosphorylation. These data imply that the EGF receptor is functionally necessary to activate ERK and neurite outgrowth in response to the prolonged depolarization in PC12 cells, and also that PKC is apparently not involved in this signaling pathway.

• 미생물학회지
• /
• 제31권1호
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 1993

Infection of Chinook Salmon Embryo (CHSE) cells with IPNV resulted in a significant decrease in intracellular free calcium concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i) compared to mock-infected cells. The degree of the decrease in [Ca$^{2+}$]i was dependent on the amount of input virus, and treatment of IPNV-infected CHSE cells with metabolic inhibitors such as cyloheximide cordycepin partially reversed the decrease in [$Ca^{2+}$]i in IPNV-infected cells. Inactiation of PINV with UV also abolished IPNV-induced decrease in [$Ca^{2+}$]i. These data suggest an active role of IPNV in the decrease of [Ca$^{2+}$]i in the infected CHSE cells. The importance of the decrease in [$Ca^{2}$i] could be supported by the finding that the production of IPNV plaques increased in the cells treated with verapamil, a calcium influex blocker, and by lowering the concentration of extracellular calcium. Decreased production of IPNV plaques was observed by elevating the extracellular calcium. Thus, it is suggested that IPNV induced a decreased in [$Ca^{2+}$]i and the decrease in [$Ca^{2+}$]i may plan an importat role in efficient replication of IPNV.ation of IPNV.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제3권4호
• /
• pp.439-445
• /
• 1999

This study is to investigate the mechanism of inhibitory effect of imipramine on the calcium utilization in single cells isolated from canine detrusor. 2 mm thick smooth muscle chops were incubated in 0.12% collagenase solution at $36^{circ}C,$ and aerated with 95% $O_2/5%\;CO_2,$ and then cell suspension was examined. Acetylcholine (ACh) evoked a concentration-dependent contraction of the isolated detrusor cells in normal physiologic salt solution (PSS), and the ACh-induced contraction was significantly inhibited by imipramine. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS, ACh-induced contraction was less than those in normal PSS and it was not affected by the pretreatment with imipramine. $Ca^{2+}-induced$ contraction in $Ca^{2+}-free$ PSS was supressed by imipramine, but addition of A 23187, a calcium ionophore, overcomed the inhibitory effect of imipramine. High potassium-depolarization (40 mM KCl) evoked cell contraction, which was inhibited by imipramine. Caffeine, a releasing agent of the stored $Ca^{2+}$ from sarcoplasmic reticulum, evoked a contraction of the cells that was not blocked by the pretreatment with imipramine. These results suggest that imipramine inhibits the influx of calcium in the detrusor cells through both the receptor-operated- and voltage-gated-calcium channels, but does not affect the release of calcium from intracellular storage site.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제15권7호
• /
• pp.949-956
• /
• 2002

There are several physiological and pharmacological evidences indicating that opening of voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels play a critical role in induction of acrosome reaction in mammalian sperm. We determined the intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in ejaculated goat sperm using a fluorescent, $Ca^{2+}$-specific probe, Fura2/AM, after the suspension of sperm in KRB medium, capable of sustaining capacitation and the acrosome reaction. We used nifedipine, D-600 and diltiazem, the $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists belonging to the classes of dihydropyridines, phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepines, to investigate the possibility that L-type voltage gated $Ca^{2+}$ channels play a role in the progesterone-stimulated exocytotic response. Progesterone promoted a rise in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in goat sperm and addition of nifedipine (100 nM) just prior to progesterone induction, significantly inhibited both intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ rise and exocytosis suggesting that $Ca^{2+}$ channels are involved in the process. However, the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase during the process of capacitation was not affected with the addition of nifedipine suggesting a role of focal channel for $Ca^{2+}$ during capacitation. Studies using monensin and nigericin, two monovalent cation ionophores showed that an influx of $Na^+$ also may play a role in the opening of $Ca^{2+}$ channels. These results strongly suggests that the entry of $Ca^{2+}$ channels with characteristics similar to those of L-type, voltage-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channels found in cardiac and skeletal muscle, is a crucial step in the sequence of events leading to progesterone induced acrosome reaction in goat sperm.