Calcium channels, external calcium concentration and cell proliferation

Abstract The electroretinogram (ERG) of the isolated retina of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus evoked by strong 10 ms light flashes at constant 5 min intervals was measured while the retina was continuously superfused with various salines which differed in Ca2+ -and Na+ -concentrations. The osmotic pressure of test- and reference-saline was adjusted to be identical by adding sucrose. Results: 1. Upon raising the calcium-concentration of the superfusate in the range of 20-150 mmol/l (constant Na+ -concentration: 208 mmol/l) the peak amplitude hmax and the half time of decay t2 of the ERG both decrease gradually up to about 50% in respect to the corresponding value in reference saline. 2. The recovery of the ERG due to dark adaptation following the “weakly light adapted state” is greatly diminished in high external [Ca2+]ex. 3. Lowering the external calcium-concentration (10 →1 mmol/l) causes a small increase in hmax and a strong increase of the half time of decay t2 (about 180%). Upon lowering the calcium concentration of the superfusate to about 1 nmol/l by 1 mmol/l of the calcium buffer EDTA, a slowly augmenting diminution of the ERG height hm SLX occurs. However, a strong retardation of the falling phase of the ERG characterized by an increase in t2 occurs quickly. Even after 90 min stay in the low calcium saline the retina is still not inexcitable; hmax is 5 - 10% of the reference value. The diminution of hmax occurs about six-fold faster when the buffer concentration is raised to 10 mmol/l EDTA. 4. Additional lowering of the Na+ -concentration (208 →20.8 mmol/l) in a superfusate with a calcium concentration raised to 150 mmol/l causes a strong reduction of the ERG amplitude hmax to about 10%. 5. In a superfusate containing 1 nmol/l calcium such lowering of the sodium concentration (208 → 20.8 mmol/l) causes a diminution of the ERG height to about 40% and the shape of the ERG to become polyphasic; at least two maxima with different time to peak values are observed. Interpretation: 1. The similarity of effects, namely raising external calcium concentration and light adaptation on the one hand and lowering external calcium and dark adaptation on the other hand may indicate that the external calcium is acting on the adaptation mechanism of the photoreceptor cells, presumably by influencing the intracellular [Ca2+]. 2. The great tolerance of the retina against Ca2+ -deficiency in the superfusate might be effected by calcium stores in the retina which need high Ca2+ -buffer concentrations in the superfusate to become exhausted. 3. In contrast to the Limulus ventral nerve photoreceptor there does not seem to be an antagonis tic effect of sodium and calcium in the crayfish retina on the control of the light channels. 4. The crayfish receptor potential seems to be composed of at least two different processes. Lowering calcium-and lowering external sodium-concentration both diminish the height and change the time course of the two components to a different degree. This could be caused by in fluencing the state of adaptation and thereby making the two maxima separately visible.

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Effects of Ca2+ and catecholamines on the guinea pig atrium action potential plateau

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.1977.233.2.h203 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 233 (2) ◽

pp. H203-H210

Author(s):

R. B. Robinson ◽

W. W. Sleator

Keyword(s):

Guinea Pig ◽

Calcium Concentration ◽

Potassium Conductance ◽

Slow Inward Current ◽

Activation Process ◽

Action Potential Plateau ◽

Guinea Pig Atrium ◽

Opposing Effects ◽

Guinea Pig Atria ◽

External Calcium

The activation process in isolated electrically driven guinea pig atria was studied by means of simultaneous microelectrode and tension recording. Reducing external calcium from 2.5 to 1.25 mM prolonged the plateau but further reduction of calcium shortened it. Progressively increasing doses of the calcium antagonist D600 (up to 1.4 micrometer), however, monotonically decreased plateau duration. Either protocol monotonically decreased steady-state tension, but with markedly different effects on the restitution relation. Epinephrine, and to a lesser extent isoproterenol, restored plateau duration after exposure to either a calcium-free or D600-containing solution, but only the isoproterenol effect was propranolol sensitive. Addition of calcium chelators enhanced rather than prevented the effect of epinephrine on plateau duration in a calcium-free solution, extending the plateau duration to more than 3 times normal in some cases. These results are explained in terms of two opposing effects of a change in calcium concentration on plateau formation, one action being through the slow inward current and the second through a shift in a calcium dependence of the inward-rectifying, potassium conductance system.

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Invariance of Stoichiometry of the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Pump at Physiological Calcium Concentrations – a Reevaluation

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C ◽

10.1515/znc-1985-7-821 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 40 (7-8) ◽

pp. 571-575 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Wilhelm Hasselbach ◽

Andrea Migala

Keyword(s):

Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ◽

Calcium Level ◽

Calcium Concentration ◽

Calcium Uptake ◽

Atp Hydrolysis ◽

Calcium Pump ◽

Oxalate Precipitation ◽

Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ◽

Internal Calcium ◽

External Calcium

Abstract The decline of the transport ratio of the sarcoplasmic calcium pump observed in a recent study (A. results from the retardation of calcium oxalate precipitation at low calcium/protein ratios. The prevailing high internal calcium level supports a rapid calcium backflux and a compensatory ATP hydrolysis during net calcium uptake which reduces the transport ratio. Yet, the determined calcium back flux does not fully account for the decline of the transport ratio. A supposed modulation of the stoichiometry of the pump by external calcium (0.1 μм) is at variance with results of previous studies showing a constant transport ratio of two in the same calcium concentration range.

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