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Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
Published on: July 16, 2013
Concentrations of ouabain that prevent intercellular communication do not affect free calcium levels in cultured
Mary Lee S Ledbetter1, Cheryl L Gatto
1Department of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA. mledbett@holycross.edu
Abstract:
To better understand inhibition of gap-junction-mediated cell communication among cultured fibroblasts treated with the sodium pump inhibitor ouabain, we tested whether such cells have higher calcium levels than normal. Using the calcium indicator dye fura-2 with fluorescence spectroscopy and digital imaging microscopy, we determined cell calcium levels during exposure of cells to ouabain. The concentration of ouabain was high enough to achieve maximum alterations of steady-state sodium and potassium content and cell communication. We found no consistent change in calcium levels in human fibroblasts as a result of this treatment. In mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, concentrations of ouabain that inhibit cell communication were associated with a significant reduction of cell calcium. It appears, therefore, that the inhibition of communication by ouabain cannot be attributed to elevated cytosolic free calcium in the treated cultures.
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