[ATP and ACh induced CICR in outer hair cells of the guinea pig cochlea: study of confocal microscopy].
OBJECTIVE
Effects of ATP and acetylcholine (ACh) on intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and possible mechanism of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) of the isolated outer hair cells (OHCs) in the guinea pig cochlea were studied with confocal microscopy.


METHODS
OHCs were isolated from guinea pig cochlea by enzymatic and mechanical methods. The effects of ATP, ACh, Ryanodine + ATP (or ACh) and Thapsigargin + ATP (or ACh) in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca2+ on [Ca2+]i in OHCs were examined by confocal microscopy.


RESULTS
In the presence of ATP, Ryanodine + ATP, Thapsigargin + ATP, ACh, Ryanodine + ACh and Thapsigargin + ACh increased [Ca2+]i and evoked an evident wave, respectively, the relative magnitude of fluorescence were 1.60 +/- 0.01(ATP), 1.644 +/- 0.005 (Ryanodine + ATP), 1.491 +/- 0.005 (Thapsigargin + ATP), 1.43 +/- 0.01 (ACh), 1.58 +/- 0.02 (Ryanodine + ACh), 1.398 +/- 0.003 (Thapsigargin + ACh) in OHCs in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ respectively. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, ATP and Ryanodine + ATP induced a gradual and small [Ca2+]i wave, the relative magnitude of fluorescence were 1.341 +/- 0.006 and 1.386 +/- 0.008, however, ACh, Ryanodine + ACh, Thapsigargin + ACh and Thapsigargin + ATP can not induce wave but a gradual [Ca2+]i elevation. ACh can not increase [Ca2+]i.


CONCLUSIONS
In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, ATP and ACh increased [Ca2+]i in OHCs not only by Ca2+ influx through ion channel on cell membrane but also a release of Ca2+ from IP3-sensitive calcium reservoir and CICR. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, ATP activated IP3 sensitive calcium reservoir and Ca2+ release through IP3 sensitive calcium reservoir, in turn CICR was induced. ACh can not activate IP3 sensitive calcium reservoir and CICR in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, therefore, the effect of ACh was dependent of extracellular Ca2+.
Huang
Li
L
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Yang
Jun
J
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003051:Cochlea / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012433:Ryanodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019284:Thapsigargin / Q000494:pharmacology
D015220:Calcium Channels; D012433:Ryanodine; D019284:Thapsigargin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium