title: Dependence of cytosolic calcium in differentiating rat pheochromocytoma cells on calcium channels and intracellular stores.
abstract: 1. The rat clonal pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) was used to study changes in the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) that are related to the distribution of L-type (dihydropyridine-sensitive) and N-type (omega-conotoxin-sensitive) calcium channels during nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced outgrowth of neurites. Changes in [Ca2+]i during K+ depolarization were recorded by means of Fura-2 single-cell microfluorimetry. 2. The basal [Ca2+]i of cells at rest was not altered by long-term treatment with NGF, neither in the cell bodies nor in the growth cones. K+ depolarization of the cells caused a rise in [Ca2+]i. 3. The dihydropyridine (DHP) nifedipine alone, or together with omega-conotoxin (omega-CgTX), were similarly effective in inhibiting the K(+)-induced increase in [Ca2+]i in untreated and NGF-treated cell bodies, arguing for a preferential distribution of L-type Ca2+ channels in this cell area. By contrast, after 6-7 days exposure to NGF the K(+)-induced initial transient rise of [Ca2+]i in growth cones was very sensitive to omega-CgTX, whereas nifedipine affected only the sustained rise. 4. PC12 cells also contain caffeine- and inositol trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores. Addition of 30 mM-caffeine caused a fast transient rise in [Ca2+]i. The extent of filling of the caffeine-sensitive pool affected basal [Ca2+]i. These Ca2+ storage sites were empty under normal culture conditions. However, a single K+ depolarization caused filling of the stores, followed by spontaneous depletion (50% in about 5 min) after wash-out of high [K+]o. When the caffeine-sensitive stores were empty, the rise in [Ca2+]i was attenuated during submaximal depolarization. Caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ stores were also present in some growth cones, though with much smaller capacities than in cell bodies. 5. Mobilization of Ca2+ from the IP3-sensitive store, by bradykinin exposure, was found to be independent of the caffeine-sensitive pool. There was no apparent 'cross-talk' between both Ca2+ pools. 6. We conclude that changes in [Ca2+]i in cell bodies depend on both membrane Ca2+ channels and intracellular Ca2+ stores. During NGF-induced differentiation there is a predominance of N-type Ca2+ channels in growth cones, while Ca2+ stores are of minor importance in these structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Reber
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reuter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D002110:Caffeine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium