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Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis in a Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line: Modulation by Depolarization, Cholinergic Receptors, and α‐Latrotoxin

1988; Wiley; Volume: 50; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1471-4159.1988.tb02467.x

1471-4159

Emanuele Sher, Cecilia Gotti, Atanasio Pandiella, Luisa Madeddu, F. Clementi,

Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Abstract: Intracellular calcium homeostasis and its modulation by different agents was studied in cells by using the by using the Ca 2+ ‐sensitive fluorescent dye quin2. The results obtained demonstrate the existence in IMR32 cells of (a) voltage‐dependent, verapamil sensitive, Ca 2+ channels, which are expressed before differentiation; (b) muscarinic receptors whose activation triggers both Ca 2+ influx and Ca 2+ redistribution from intracellular stores, whereas nicotinc receptors and α‐bungarotoxin binding sites do not; and (c) receptors for α‐latrotoxin (the major toxin of the black widow spider venom), which are well‐known markers of the neuronal presynaptic membrane. Up to now, no cell lines of human origin sensitive to this toxin have been identified. These results confirm that IMR32 cells are very convenient model cells for studying specific aspects of the neurochemistry and neurobiology of the human neuron at the molecular and cellular levels.