[The role of changes in the cytoplasmic concentration of Ca2+ in dexamethasone-induced thymocyte death]

The putative role of changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the dexamethasone (DM) induced thymocyte death was investigated. Incubation of rat thymocytes with 10(-7) M DM for different time intervals from 0.1 to 8 h did not change the basal [Ca2+]i level ca 100 nM as measured with Ca(2+)-fluorescent probe Quin-2. Ca2+ influx measured by the rate of 45Ca2+ uptake was also just the same in DM treated and control cells. At the same time a 6-8 h incubation of cell suspension with 10(-7) M DM results in significant increase in DNA fragmentation and pyknosis, and a 24 h incubation is associated with the decrease in the percentage of cells not staining with Trypan blue. Thus, the results obtained indicate that 10(-7) M DM induces thymocyte death without any significant and constant [Ca2+]i rise during the first 8 h after hormone application.