title: A bimodal pattern of InsP(3)-evoked elementary Ca(2+) signals in pancreatic acinar cells.
abstract: InsP(3)-evoked elementary Ca(2+) release events have been postulated to play a role in providing the building blocks of larger Ca(2+) signals. In pancreatic acinar cells, low concentrations of acetylcholine or the injection of low concentrations of InsP(3) elicit a train of spatially localized Ca(2+) spikes. In this study we have quantified these responses and compared the Ca(2+) signals to the elementary events shown in Xenopus oocytes. The results demonstrate, at the same concentrations of InsP(3), Ca(2+) signals consisting of one population of small transient Ca(2+) release events and a second distinct population of larger Ca(2+) spikes. The signal mass amplitudes of both types of events are within the range of amplitudes for the elementary events in Xenopus oocytes. However, the bimodal Ca(2+) distribution of Ca(2+) responses we observe is not consistent with the continuum of event sizes seen in Xenopus. We conclude that the two types of InsP(3)-dependent events in acinar cells are both elementary Ca(2+) signals, which are independent of one another. Our data indicate a complexity to the organization of the Ca(2+) release apparatus in acinar cells, which might result from the presence of multiple InsP(3) receptor isoforms, and is likely to be important in the physiology of these cells.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Imaging Group, Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01650 USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Fogarty
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tuft
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thorn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate