title: Cultured rat astrocytes possess Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger.
abstract: Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity in its reverse mode was demonstrated in cultured rat astrocytes. Combination of ouabain (1 mM) and monensin (20 microM) caused a marked increase in 45Ca2+ uptake in astrocytes. 45Ca2+ uptake was also stimulated by lowering the external Na+ concentration. Ouabain plus monensin-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake was blocked by 3,4-dichlorobenzamil (IC50, 16 microM), an inhibitor of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, but not by nifedipine (0.1 microM). The stimulated-45Ca2+ uptake was observed even in K(+)-free medium, and external K+ at 5-10 mM caused a 2.2-fold increase in the uptake. Microspectrofluorimetry using the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura-2 showed that ouabain plus monensin increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration in single astrocytes. The Ca2+ signal was dependent on external Ca2+ (EC50, 1.4 mM), and blocked by 20 microM 3,4-dichlorobenzamil, but not by Ca2+ channel blockers (Cd2+, 20 microM; Ni2+, 100 microM). Antiserum of cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger recognized 160 and 120-135 kDa proteins on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of astrocyte homogenate. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of mRNA for the exchanger protein in astrocytes. These findings indicate that Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger which is modulated by K+ is present in cultured rat astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takuma
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000584:Amiloride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D008985:Monensin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; C041470:3',4'-dichlorobenzamil; D010042:Ouabain; D000584:Amiloride; D008985:Monensin; D011188:Potassium