[Influence of acetylcholine on cytoplasma Ca2+ signals and gap junctional intercellular communication of rat hippocampus cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of acetylcholine (Ach) on gap junctional intercellular communication in rat hippocampus.


METHODS
Ach was applied to primary co-cultured hippocampus neurons and glial cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to monitor the change of Ca(2+) in the cytoplasma. The effect of Ach on gap junctional intercellular communication(GJIC) was measured by scrape loading method.


RESULTS
Ach(0.05-0.10 mmol/L) induced all changes in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration   and calcium waves and calcium oscilation in cytoplasma. The Ca(2+) change could be blocked by scopolamine. Using scrape-loading method, we found GJIC notably enhanced 60 h after applying Ach to these cultured cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Ach can enhance GJIC in hippocampus cells.
Department of Biophysics, Peking University Basic Medical School, Beijing 100083, China. lijunwang@bjmu.edu.cn
Li-jun
LJ
Wang
Bai-he
BH
Hu
Qi-hua
QH
He
Jing-yu
JY
Fan
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology
D012601:Scopolamine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium