title: Fura-2 fluorescent technique for the assessment of Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes.
abstract: Ca2+ homeostasis plays a pivotal role in maintaining cell growth and function. Many heart diseases are related to the abnormalities in Ca2+ mobilization and extrusion. Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dyes have been used successfully to estimate intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) level and the mechanisms of Ca2+ movements in living cells. This article is focused on the methodology involving the use of Fura-2/AM or free Fura-2 to measure agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization as well as the mechanisms of changes in [Ca2+]i in cardiomyocytes. Methods involving Fura-2 technique for the measurement of Ca2+ extrusion from the cells and Ca2+ reuptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) are also described. The prevention of KCl-induced increase in the intracellular Ca2+ is shown by chelating the extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA or by the presence of Ca2+-channel inhibitors such as verapamil and diltiazem. The involvement of SR in the ATP-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ is illustrated by the use of Ca2+-pump inhibitors, thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid as well as ryanodine which deplete the SR Ca2+ storage. The use of 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl N,N-diphenyl carbamate (NCDC), an inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) production, is described for the attenuation of phosphatidic acid (PA) induced increase in Ca2+-mobilization. The increase in intracellular Ca2+ in cardiomyocytes by PA, unlike that by KCl or ATP, was observed in diabetic myocardium. Thus, it appears that the Fura-2 method for the measurement of Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes is useful in studying the pathophysiology and pharmacology of Ca2+ movements.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Dhalla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002469:Cell Separation; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2