title: Effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid on cytosolic Ca2+ signals in isolated rat hepatocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is of potential benefit in cholestatic disorders. However, the effects of TUDCA on cytosolic free calcium [(Ca2+)i], which regulates hepatocyte secretion, are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of TUDCA on (Ca2+)i was investigated in groups of isolated rat hepatocytes by microspectrofluorometry and in single cells by confocal line scanning microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of TUDCA (5-50 mumol/L) induced a nearly fourfold increase of basal levels of (Ca2+)i. After a 15 minute treatment period, the TUDCA (10 mumol/L)-induced change in (Ca2+)i was higher than that of other mono-, di-, and trihydroxy bile acids at equimolar concentrations. Pretreatment with TUDCA (10 mumol/L) markedly reduced or abolished increases in (Ca2+)i induced by phenylephrine (1 mumol/L), the microsomal Ca(2+)-translocase inhibitor 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone (25 mumol/L), or taurolithocholic acid (10-25 mumol/L). In Ca(2+)-free medium, TUDCA caused only a reduced and transient increase in (Ca2+)i. TUDCA (10 mumol/L) induced Ca2+ oscillations in all single cells that responded. However, levels of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in hepatocytes were not increased by treatment with TUDCA (10 mumol/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TUDCA at physiological concentrations potently modulates (Ca2+)i signals in hepatocytes by (1) mobilizing microsomal IP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores by an IP3-independent mechanism, (2) initiating Ca2+ oscillations, and (3) inducing influx of extracellular Ca2+.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Beuers
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nathanson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Boyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; C031655:ursodoxicoltaurine; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium