Carbachol-induced cytosolic free Ca2+ increases in T84 colonic cells seen by microfluorimetry

Changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in response to the secretagogue carbachol have been characterized in the human colon cancer cell line T84, a model Cl- secretory cell. In this study, [Ca2+]i was determined with the fluorescence indicator fura-2 at the single-cell level with a fluorescent microscope-imaging system. Basal [Ca2+]i in T84 cells in Ringer-HCO3 solution was 76 +/- 4 nM and was decreased by exposure to Ca2+ free solution or 25 microM verapamil. The cholinergic agonist carbachol caused a concentration-dependent rise in [Ca2+]i with a Km of 4 microM and a peak increase in [Ca2+]i of approximately 50 nM. The onset of the [Ca2+]i increase was within 3 s, occurred uniformly among cells, and peaked at 10-15 s. The increase in [Ca2+]i was heterogenous in the length of time the [Ca2+]i remained elevated above basal, and cell responses could be divided into at least two groups on that basis. Blocking the contributions of intracellular Ca2+ with dantrolene inhibited the increase in [Ca2+]i as early as could be determined, whereas blocking the extracellular contribution with ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), verapamil, or nifedipine inhibited a slightly later increase in [Ca2+]i. In conclusion, the initial detectable increase in [Ca2+]i caused by carbachol is due to the release of Ca2+ from internal stores, whereas the contribution of extracellular Ca2+ occurs later and at least partially involves a nifedipine- and verapamil-sensitive process.