[Intracellular calcium and pH as sensitive parameters of toxicity in neural cell culture]

Primary cell cultures and synaptosomes of brain serve as tools to investigate neurotoxic compounds. Changes of intracellular calcium and pH indicate cell injury. In the present study, mesencephalic cell cultures were prepared from embryonal C57/BL6 mouse brain and intact synaptosomes from dog brain. In both model systems, the effect of MPTP, MPP+ and paraquat on intracellular calcium homeostasis and pH were studied. Direct addition of these neurotoxins (10 µM) to fura-2-labeled cells did not change intracellular calcium concentration. Mesencephalic neurons were exposed to 10 µM MPP+ for 24 hours led to a 36% calcium increase. Thus both in vitro models of changes of calcium homeostasis and pH may serve to study prolonged toxic effects of substances and also means of their prevention.