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Published on: May 7, 2013
Intracellular calcium and pH alterations induced by Escherichia coli endotoxin in rat hepatocytes
M T Portolés1, M J Ainaga, A M Municio
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
In this study, the fluorescent Ca2+ probe fura-2 and the fluorescent pH indicator BCECF have been used to monitor cytosolic free Ca2+ and intracellular pH (pHi), respectively, in isolated and cultured hepatocytes treated with Escherichia coli O111:B4 endotoxin. Uptake of 45Ca2+ was also measured to study the effect of endotoxin on the extracellular calcium influx. Endotoxin treatment produced a progressive increase of cytosolic Ca2+ in a dose-dependent manner caused by both induction of a significant release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and stimulation of the extracellular calcium influx. The perturbation of Ca2+ homeostasis by endotoxin may cause an abnormal stimulation of physiological processes, developing lethal cell injury. Endotoxin also produced a significant decrease in the pHi of hepatocytes which can justify important metabolic alterations during endotoxicosis.
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