Calcium dependence of serotonin-evoked conductance in C6 glioma cells

Whole-cell membrane currents and imaging of intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were used to investigate the role of calcium in a response to serotonin of C6 glioma cells. Activation of a high-affinity serotonin receptor induced a transient rise in calcium concentration in these cells and activated a predominantly potassium conductance, with a small chloride component. Perfusion of the cytoplasm with an internal solution containing high calcium concentration induced similar but prolonged increase of membrane conductance. The responsiveness of C6 cells to serotonin was negatively correlated with the concentration of the unbound calcium chelator BAPTA when BAPTA-buffered calcium-containing intracellular solutions were used. Responses to serotonin persisted in the absence of external calcium, decreased gradually, and then recovered partially after replenishment of extracellular calcium. These findings substantiate the direct role of intracellular calcium in mediating the serotonin response, and indicate that serotonin-induced release of calcium from intracellular stores is sufficient for the activation of conductance in the C6 glioma cell line.