title: [Calcium and the liver].
abstract: The concentration of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in living cells is far below than that of plasma and must be extruded against a large electrochemical gradient. Cytosolic Ca2+ is also concentrated by two organelles, the high-affinity, low-capacity endoplasmic reticulum and the low-affinity, high-capacity mitochondria. In liver, different hormones and neurotransmitters mobilize cell glucose by using Ca2+ as an amplifier signal. These agonists promote a fast and large increase in [Ca2+]i as detected by intracellular fluorescent indicators resulting from permeabilization of the endoplasmic reticulum and stimulation of the Ca2+ influx. The hormone action is mediated by rapid hydrolysis of inositol lipids with formation of two messagers inositol [1,4,5]triphosphate and diacylglycerol. Certain bile acids also promote a pronounced release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum in liver but independently of the hormone messengers. Mobilization of cell Ca2+ and/or H+ by these cell messengers is involved in a wide variety of other cell functions.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche INSERM U. 274 Physiologie et Pharmacologie Cellulaire, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Claret
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mauger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D006728:Hormones; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D002118:Calcium
vernacular_title: Calcium et foie.