Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
Published on: July 16, 2013
Mechanically evoked 5-hydroxytryptamine release is mediated by caveolin-associated cholesterol rich membrane domains
1Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Abstract:
5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from enterochromaffin cells activates neural reflexes that govern intestinal motility and secretion. Mechanical stimulation of human enterochromaffin cell-derived BON cells activates a G alpha q-signalling pathway coupled to 5-HT release. Molecular mechanisms identifying elements of mechanosensory transduction are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of caveolin and caveolin-associated cholesterol rich microdomains in mechanically stimulated 5-HT release from BON cells. Caveolin-1 transcripts and immunofluorescence were found in BON cells. In the static state, caveolins-1 and -2 co-precipitated with G alpha q in cholesterol rich cell fractions, but not with G alpha s, G alpha i/o and G beta. Mechanical stimulation transiently uncoupled G alpha q from caveolin-1 and increased 5-HT release. Disassembly of caveolin-associated membrane microdomains by filipin or by cholesterol depletion with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin decreased mechanically evoked 5-HT release. These results suggest that caveolin and caveolin-associated cholesterol rich membrane microdomains are key regulators in mechanically evoked 5-HT release from enterochromaffin cells.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or...

