title: Mobiloization of intracellular calcium ions in chicken and rat lymphocytes induced by T cell mitogens.
abstract: Cytosolic Ca(2+) is known to be an important factor in intracellular signaling pathways that regulate several cellular functions. The present study was designed to measure the intracellular concentrations of Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) in T cell mitogen-stimulated chicken lymphocytes, and to compare the results with those in rat lymphocytes. [Ca(2+)](i) was increased in the thymocytes, splenocytes and bursacytes of chickens, and in the thymocytes and splenocytes of rats following exposure to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA). Increases were greatest in the thymocytes followed by the splenocytes and bursacytes. The PHA-induced changes in the thymocytes and splenocytes were similar in chickens and rats, but the ConA-induced increases were significantly lower in the chickens than rats. Pretreatment with EGTA before the application of PHA and ConA completely suppressed the rise in [Ca(2+)](i) in all the chicken lymphocytes, indicating that the increases that occurred in PHA- and ConA-treated chicken lymphocytes could be entirely attributed to the influx of extracellular Ca(2+). On the other hand, the PHA- and ConA-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in rat lymphocytes was not completely suppressed by EGTA, indicating the recruitment of Ca(2+) from the intracellular Ca(2+) pool. The results suggest species differences in the Ca(2+)-based responses to T cell mitogens between chicken lymphocytes and rat lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.lastname: Gerilechaogetu
authors.forename: Kiyoaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narahara
authors.forename: Asaki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D002118:Calcium