title: Thapsigargin-evoked changes in human platelet Ca2+, Na+, pH and membrane potential.
abstract: 1. In this work we explored the effect of thapsigarin on the intracellular Ca2+, pH, Na+ and membrane potential in human platelets. These parameters were monitored using the fluorescent probes fura-2, 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein, sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate, and 3,3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide. 2. Thapsigargin caused an increase in the cytosolic Ca2+, coupled with cytosolic alkalinization. Thapsigargin-induced alkalinization was Na(+)-dependent, indicating that thapsigargin stimulated the Na(+)-H+ exchange. 3. Using Mn2+ as a Ca2+ surrogate, we showed that thapsigargin activated Ca2+ channels at relatively low levels of cytosolic Ca2+, suggesting that a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ is not the signal for the activation of these channels. 4. Thapsigargin-induced increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ was greater in Na(+)-containing medium than in Na(+)-free medium, suggesting that Na(+)-dependent mechanisms participate in the regulation of platelet cytosolic Ca2+. 5. Thapsigargin not only increased the cytosolic Ca2+, but also elevated the cytosolic free Na+. The latter effect was more pronounced in Ca(2+)-free medium, a finding that may indicate that some of the Na+ enters through Ca2+ entry pathways. 6. Finally, thapsigargin evoked sustained platelet hyperpolarization which was attenuated by charybdotoxin, indicating thapsigargin-induced stimulation of Ca(2+)-sensitive K+ channels. 7. Together these observations demonstrate a multifactorial effect of thapsigargin on platelets that can be utilized to further understand platelet ionic homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Center, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103-2714.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lasker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aviv
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019284:Thapsigargin
chemical_list: D013729:Terpenes; D019284:Thapsigargin; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium