[The effects of heroin on intracellular free Ca2+ of rat myocardium].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of heroin on intracellular free Ca2+ in rat myocardium.


METHODS
The effects of heroin on intracellular free Ca2+ were observed in cultured neonatal rat myocardium by measuring intracellular free Ca2+ concentration using calcium fluorescent probe Flou-3/AM and laser scanning confocal microscope.


RESULTS
Different doses and concentrations of heroin appeared to have different effects on intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations, with a dosage dependent short linear increase in the fluorescence intensity (i.e., Ca2+ concentration) leading to [Ca2+]i peak.


CONCLUSIONS
Heroin could affect concentrations of [Ca2+]i in myocardium and its dosage related effect needs further investigation.
Liu
Xiao-Shan
XS
Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. lxsa200@yahoo.com.cn
Wu
Jing-Dong
JD
Hao
Zi-Rui
ZR
Liu
Shui-Ping
SP
Li
Zhao-Hui
ZH
Li
Hai-Xia
HX
Chen
Yu-Chuan
YC
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D003932:Heroin; D002118:Calcium