Ca2+-images of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in one confocal plane in femoral artery segments of the rat.
Simultaneous recording of Ca2+-images in one confocal plane from vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) of an intact rat femoral artery segment was performed using indo-1 and a confocal microscope. During application of 10 microM acetylcholine (ACh), elevation and oscillation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were observed in ECs but not in SMCs. Sequential conduction of Ca2+ oscillation from an EC to the neighboring ECs in one longitudinal direction was often observed in the presence of ACh. On the other hand, the activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels by external 30 mM K+ resulted in the elevation of [Ca2+]i only in SMCs. When 10 microM ACh was added in the presence of 30 mM K+, it was observed in one confocal plane that [Ca2+]i in ECs and SMCs was almost simultaneously increased and decreased, respectively. The simultaneous recording method in this intact preparation will provide a line of valuable information about the interactions between SMCs and ECs, based on spatio-temporal analyses of absolute values of [Ca2+]i in individual cells.
Ohi
Y
Y
Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.
Takai
N
N
Muraki
K
K
Watanabe
M
M
Imaizumi
Y
Y
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium