title: Spatially resolved cytosolic calcium response to angiotensin II and potassium in rat glomerulosa cells measured by digital imaging techniques.
abstract: The response of cytosolic calcium [Ca2+]i to angiotensin II (AII) and potassium (K+) in individual rat glomerulosa cells was determined using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2 and digital imaging. Control (4 mM K+) cytosolic calcium levels were generally in the 80-120 nM range and increased monotonically as [K+] was increased from 4 to 12 mM. There was no delay in the onset of the response. In most cells the [Ca2+]i decreased from its peak after 3-4 min, even in the presence of superfusate containing elevated K+. The time course of the change in [Ca2+]i in response to AII stimulation, on the other hand, was more variable. It was most often characterized by an early decrease followed by a large delayed increase. The response also was observed to decline during sustained AII stimulation. The majority of the cells showed some response to one or the other secretagogue with a sizeable minority (25%) having an increase in [Ca2+]i in excess of 200%. While the majority showed a response, the cell to cell variation was substantial. Finally, the pattern of cytosolic calcium increase sometimes showed a marked dependence on the secretagogue used, with different regions of the same cell being more strongly affected by one agent or the other. A few cells (10%) responded to AII only at one pole, establishing a large concentration gradient of calcium across the cell. Because of differences in time course, pattern, and degree of responsiveness, it is likely that the mechanisms underlying the Ca2+ elevation with K+ and AII are different.
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005453:Fluorescence; D016257:Fura-2; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008433:Mathematics; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000804:Angiotensin II; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2