thapsigargin and fura-red

Indo-1 and high-power water-cooled lasers have been the standard for flow cytometric based Ca(2+) flux measurements. With advances in technology and the availability of low-power air-cooled lasers, there is interest in alternative protocols. Here, we have compared Indo-1 with the combination of fluo-3 and Fura Red calcium indicator dyes using low-power air-cooled lasers as the excitation source. The reagents were examined in parallel to detect Ca(2+) flux in peripheral blood T lymphocytes and in a T lymphoblastoid cell line. Ca(2+) flux was detected with a FACSVantage SE equipped with an Omnichrome Series 74 Helium-Cadmium, or a Spectra Physics 177-G1202 Argon ion air-cooled laser. Following determination of optimal loading conditions, Ca(2+) flux was examined in response to membrane receptor stimulation or intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization. Dose dependent Ca(2+) flux to anti-CD3 and thapsigargin was detected with either Indo-1 or with fluo-3 and Fura Red. The profile of the Ca(2+) flux detected by Indo-1 or with fluo-3 and Fura Red appeared similar, with the combination of fluo-3 and Fura Red more sensitive under the particular test conditions. The results clearly demonstrated that Indo-1 could be usefully excited with a low-power air-cooled laser. The alternative use of fluo-3 and Fura Red does not require the availability of a UV capable laser and produced equivalent data.

Topics: Aniline Compounds; Benzofurans; Calcium; CD3 Complex; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Imidazoles; Indoles; Jurkat Cells; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Thapsigargin; Xanthenes

Cytoplasmatic calcium concentrations are elevated two to three fold during cerebral ischemia. In order to determine the role of calcium-release from intracellular stores vs. calcium entry from the extracellular space, intracellular stores were depleted by the use of thapsigargin and calcium was removed from the incubation fluid prior to energy deprivation (ED). CA 1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal rat slices were filled with a 1:2 mixture of Fluo-3 and Fura Red by intracellular injection. The neurons were visualized in a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) and the fluorescence ratio from the probe mixture was used to quantify the calcium concentration. Intracellular calcium concentration was monitored before and during ED. The intracellular calcium concentration was 55 nM prior to ED and increased to 25 microM during ED. The resting levels were the same in the experimental groups, but the increase during ED was significantly lower in the intervention groups. The increase in the calcium free group was to 1 microM and in the thapsigargin group to 5 microM. In the last experimental group, thapsigargin treatment and removal of extracellular calcium, the intracellular calcium increased to 630 nM. These results demonstrate that the increased intracellular calcium seen during ED originates from several sources. Calcium-release from intracellular stores may be of major importance in calcium-related neuronal injury during cerebral ischemia.

Topics: Aniline Compounds; Animals; Benzofurans; Calcium; Calcium Channel Blockers; Energy Metabolism; Extracellular Space; Fluorescent Dyes; Hippocampus; Imidazoles; In Vitro Techniques; Intracellular Membranes; Microscopy, Confocal; Osmolar Concentration; Pyramidal Cells; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thapsigargin; Xanthenes