title: Blebbing, free Ca2+ and mitochondrial membrane potential preceding cell death in hepatocytes.
abstract: Cell surface 'blebbing' is an early consequence of hypoxic and toxic injury to cells. A rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ has been suggested as the stimulus for bleb formation and the final common pathway to irreversible cell injury. Here, using digitized low-light video microscopy, we examine blebbing, cytosolic free Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential and loss of cell viability in individual cultured hepatocytes. Unexpectedly, we found that after 'chemical hypoxia' with cyanide and iodoacetate, cytosolic free Ca2+ does not change during bleb formation or before loss of cellular viability. Cell death was precipitated by a sudden breakdown of the plasma membrane permeability barrier, possibly caused by rupture of a cell surface bleb.
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D004987:Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000473:pathology; D015759:Ionomycin; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D014667:Vasopressins; D010656:Phenylephrine; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D015759:Ionomycin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002118:Calcium