title: Effects of berbamine on ATP-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of berbamine (Ber) on [Ca2+]i homeostasis induced by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of rabbits and cardiomyocytes of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both cell types were cultured and loaded with Fura 3-AM. [Ca2+]i was measured by fluorescent intensity (FI) in each cell with confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) ATP 30 mumol.L-1 elevated [Ca2+]i in VSMC and cardiomyocytes, FI values reached 660 +/- 258 and 1058 +/- 252 from 250 +/- 84 and 218 +/- 76 at 19 s +/- 5 s and 11.8 s +/- 2.4 s, but FI in nucleus was not changed in VSMC. (2) Ber 30 mumol.L-1 did not affect the resting FI in both cell types, but prolonged the time to peak (P < 0.01) and reduced the FI elevated by ATP (P < 0.01), but not completely inhibited even at 100 mumol.L-1. (3) In D-Hanks' solution or in the presence of egtazic acid (EGTA) 3 mmol.L-1, the inhibitory effect of Ber was not seen (P > 0.05). (4) All effects of Ber on ATP-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization were similar to those of Ver 10 mumol.L-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In VSMC and cardiomyocytes, ATP-induced CA2+ influx was inhibited by Ber and Ver, while the Ca2+ release was not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Harbin Medical University, China. liby@ems.hrbmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: B Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil; D002118:Calcium; C027870:berbamine