title: Ragged spiking of free calcium in ADP-stimulated human platelets: regulation of puff-like calcium signals in vitro and ex vivo.
abstract: 1. Human platelets respond to agonists of G protein (G(q))-coupled receptors by generating an irregular pattern of spiking changes in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). We have investigated the ADP-induced Ca2+ responses of single, Fluo-3-loaded platelets in the presence or absence of autologous plasma or whole blood under flow conditions. 2. In plasma-free platelets, incubated in buffer medium, baseline separated [Ca2+]i peaks always consisted of a rapid rising phase (median time 0.8 s) which was abruptly followed by a slower, mono-exponential decay phase. The decay constant differed from platelet to platelet, ranging from 0.23 +/- 0.02 to 0.63 +/- 0.03 s(-1) (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 3-5), and was used to identify individual Ca2+ release events and to determine the Ca2+ fluxes of the events. 3. Confocal, high-frequency measurements of adherent, spread platelets (diameter 3-5 microm) indicated that different optical regions had simultaneous patterns of both low- and high-amplitude Ca2+ release events. 4. With or without plasma or flowing blood, the ADP-induced Ca2+ signals in platelets had the characteristics of irregular Ca2+ puffs as well as more regular Ca2+ oscillations. Individual [Ca2+]i peaks varied in amplitude and peak-to-peak interval, as observed for separated Ca2+ puffs within larger cells. On the other hand, the peaks appeared to group into periods of ragged, shorter-interval Ca2+ release events with little integration, which were alternated with longer-interval events. 5. We conclude that the spiking Ca2+ signal generated in these small cells has the characteristics of a 'poor' oscillator with an irregular frequency being reactivated from period to period. This platelet signal appears to be similar in an environment of non-physiological buffer medium and in flowing, whole blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. jwm.heemskerk@bioch.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Heemskerk
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rook
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Sage
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002021:Buffers; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects*; D002138:Calibration; D003470:Culture Media; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D003470:Culture Media; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D002118:Calcium