title: Effects of calcium on gap junctions between osteoblast-like cells in culture.
abstract: The present study investigated the effects of elevated cytoplasmic free calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) on the permeability of gap junctions between cultured osteoblast-like (OB) cells derived from calvarial and periosteal fragments of newborn rats. This was studied using the double whole cell patch clamp technique and intracellular dye injections. To increase [Ca2+]i, patch pipette solutions contained 100 micromol/liter Ca2+. About 1-2 minutes after whole cell modes had been attained, the total number of gap junction channels was reduced from an average of 400 in normal Ca2+ to 20 in high Ca2+. Thereafter, remaining gap junction channels were active for up to 8 minutes. In normal rat kidney (NRK) cells, gap junction channels were closed by high Ca2+ within 1 minute, pointing to a similar sensitivity of Connexin43 gap junction channels in OB and NRK cells. To study the effects of elevated [Ca2+]i on the dye permeability of gap junctions between extended OB cells, the spread of Lucifer Yellow to neighboring cells was evaluated. [Ca2+]i was gradually increased from 1.5- to 14-fold the normal value by application of either ouabain, Na+-free/ouabain, or A23187. Reduced dye spread correlated with the increase of [Ca2+]i measured by analyzing the fluorescence of fura-2. These data show that gap junctions in OB cells are sensitive to Ca2+.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Hufelandstr. 55, University of Essen, D-45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schirrmacher
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nonhoff
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiemann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peterson-Grine
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bingmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium