title: Role of epidermal growth factor-induced membrane depolarization and resulting calcium influx in osteoblastic cell proliferation.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the membrane potential of rat calvarial osteoblasts, in order to understand the mechanism responsible for calcium influx and the role these EGF-induced events have in osteoblastic cell proliferation. Changes in plasma membrane potential were measured using patch clamp techniques in isolated cells. EGF induced changes in plasma membrane potential only after cells had been in culture for at least 6 days. EGF induced membrane depolarization in 55% of rat calvarial osteoblasts studied after 6 to 8 days in culture. This membrane event was dependent on extracellular calcium, therefore, one or more calcium conductances were involved. Nifedipine, a voltage-activated calcium channel blocker, significantly reduced membrane depolarization, and demonstrated the existence of a nifedipine-insensitive conductance. Osteoblastic cell proliferation was measured by cell count. The EGF-dependent increase in cell proliferation was blocked by addition of 10 microM nifedipine. Therefore, it appears that the mechanism of action of EGF-induced osteoblastic cell proliferation is mediated by changes in plasma membrane potential which result in extracellular calcium influx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loza
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marzec
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simasko
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dziak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium