We have attempted to reconstruct in vitro the events that may occur in vivo during reperfusion injury after ischemia in the central nervous system. The phenomenon is induced by previous exposure to low calcium solutions ("calcium paradox") before the reperfusion episode. Intracellular calcium alterations during reperfusion of human astrocytoma U1242MG cells have been investigated with microspectrofluorimetry using the calcium-sensitive dye fura-2. Cells were perfused in calcium-free buffer solution for 30 min and then re-exposed to the control buffer solution (1.5 mM CaCl2). [Ca2+]i increased up to 3.5 times control levels during the reperfusion period. The mechanism of the increase was also investigated. Addition of TTX (2 microM) or choline chloride sodium substitution during perfusion with low calcium prevented the [Ca2+]i increase during reperfusion. Reperfusion increases in [Ca2+]i were exacerbated by low potassium in the perfusion medium, but unaltered by the calcium channel blockers cadmium (100 microM) and nickel (100 microM). In a similar manner, flunarizine (10 microM) and cadmium (100 microM) were unable to modify reperfusion [Ca2+]i alterations. Low sodium in the reperfusion medium produced significant increases in [Ca2+]i if preceded by low potassium and calcium perfusion. The viability of cells after 24 h of incubation after the insult produced by exposure to Ca(2+)-free media for 30 min was also investigated. Compared with control groups, the groups treated with Ca(2+)-free media for 30 min had a decreased number of surviving cells and morphological alterations indicative of cell pathology. The relative number of cytotoxic cells was increased by maneuvers (low potassium perfusion) that presumably blocked the Na/KATPase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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The role of the phosphatidylinositol second messenger system in luteal regulation has not been extensively studied, particularly in the primate. The objectives of this study were (1) to further characterize the response of the primate CL to the calcium ionophore A23187, in terms of intracellular free calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) and progesterone (P) production; and (2) to assess the effects of depleting, as well as elevating, available calcium on luteal P and prostaglandin (PG) production. The response to A23187, in terms of [Ca2+]i, was measured by fura-2 fluorescence microscopy of single small and large luteal cells. A23187 significantly increased [Ca2+]i in both cell types (p less than 0.01). P production (basal and hCG-stimulated) by dispersed primate luteal cells incubated for various times (1-8 h) with and without A23187 was measured. Treatment with A23187 rapidly (within 1-2 h) attenuated (p less than 0.05) the time-dependent increase in basal and hCG-stimulated P production. Luteal P and PG production following treatment with the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, alone or in combination with additional CaCl2, was also monitored. Treatment with ionomycin (p less than 0.01) and CaCl2 (p less than 0.01) inhibited luteal P production. In contrast, treatment with ionomycin stimulated (p less than 0.01) luteal PG production. To determine the effects of Ca2+ depletion on luteal function, P and PG production by cells incubated for 2 and 8 h in the absence and presence of the Ca(2+)-chelator EGTA was measured. Luteal production of both P and PG was inhibited by 8-h treatment with EGTA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of local anesthetics (lidocaine and procaine) and hypothermic perfusion on Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity during reperfusion-induced calcium paradox in vitro. Hypothetically, this work provides a mechanism for reperfusion paradox injury in vitro that may relate to a variety of ischemic insults in vivo. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in individual cells was measured using a fura-2 photometry system during protocols previously shown to dramatically and persistently increase [Ca2+]i in a manner that replicates certain phases of reperfusion injury in vivo. Our results suggest that short (< 5.0 min) exposure to hypocalcia prompts subsequent, potentially lethal, sodium-dependent calcium entry via the reverse phase of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. The local anesthetics lidocaine or procaine are able to block [Ca2+]i increases when added at the time of reperfusion. Furthermore, since [Ca2+]i is normally increased when local anesthetics are added by themselves, the results suggest that local anesthetics promote the forward mode of Na+/Ca2+ exchange (i.e., Na-dependent calcium removal) in addition to reverse Na+/Ca2+ exchanger blockade. Low temperature (18 degrees C) perfusion or reperfusion also affects exchanger dynamics and attenuates calcium entry during such protocols. These experiments further implicate the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in reperfusion-mediated cell injury and provide potential ways to therapeutically modify such phenomena in vivo.