title: Analysis of calcium oscillations in pancreatic acinar cells.
abstract: Since they were first reported in hepatocytes in 1986, agonist-evoked oscillations in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) have been described in numerous cell types, including pancreatic exocrine and endocrine cells. Pancreatic acinar cells show both 'sinusoidal' [Ca2+]i oscillations (when stimulated with muscarinic agonists) and so-called 'baseline [Ca2+]i spiking' (when stimulated with cholecystokinin, bombesin or analogues of either peptide). These agonist-evoked [Ca2+]i oscillations present novel problems to the investigator, particularly since they show considerable cell-to-cell variability. In this review, we discuss the various approaches available for analysing [Ca2+]i oscillations, particularly with respect to assessing whether drugs or other experimental interventions alter the oscillation pattern.
authors.affiliation: Cell Physiology Group, School of Biological Sciences (G 38), University of Manchester, UK. aelliot@fs1.scg.man.ac.uk
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D009991:Oscillometry; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium