Effect of crocin on intracellular calcium concentration in cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of crocin on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells (BASMCs).


METHODS
Cells were loaded with fluorescence probe Fluo-3/AM and [Ca2+]i was measured by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM).


RESULTS
In the presence or absence of extracellular Ca2+, crocin (1 x 10(-8), 1 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1)) concentration-dependently inhibited the [Ca2+]i elevation induced by 1 x 10(-2) mol x L(-1) H2O2 (for the former, the inhibition rates were 34.1%, 57.1% and 74.3%, while for the latter were 26.2%, 32.1%, 50.0%). In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, crocin (1 x 10(-8), 1 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1)) could inhibit the [Ca2+]i elevation induced by 70 mmol x L(-1) CHCl3, the inhibition rates were 27.8%, 27.8% and 50.0% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Crocin could inhibit the extracellular Ca2+ influx and release of intracellular Ca2+ stores in endoplasmic reticulum.
He
Shu-ying
SY
Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. heshuying66@sohu.com
Qian
Zhi-yu
ZY
Tang
Fu-tian
FT
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002725:Chloroform / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D032062:Gardenia / Q000737:chemistry; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
D002338:Carotenoids; D002725:Chloroform; C029036:crocin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002118:Calcium