• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.375-379
• /
• 2003

$Ca^{2+}$ influx appears to be important for triggering myoblast fusion. It remains, however, unclear how $Ca^{2+}$ influx rises prior to myoblast fusion. Recently, several studies suggested that NMDA receptors may be involved in $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization of muscle, and that $Ca^{2+}$ influx is mediated by NMDA receptors in C2C12 myoblasts. Here, we report that other types of ionotropic glutamate receptors, non-NMDA receptors (AMPA and KA receptors), are also involved in $Ca^{2+}$ influx in myoblasts. To explore which subtypes of non-NMDA receptors are expressed in C2C12 myogenic cells, RT-PCR was performed, and the results revealed that KA receptor subunits were expressed in both myoblasts and myotubes. However, AMPA receptor was not detected in myoblasts but expressed in myotubes. Using a $Ca^{2+}$ imaging system, $Ca^{2+}$ influx mediated by these receptors was directly measured in a single myoblast cell. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level was increased by KA, but not by AMPA. These results were consistent with RT-PCR data. In addition, KA-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase was completely suppressed by treatment of nifedifine, a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker. Furthermore, KA stimulated myoblast fusion in a dose-dependent manner. CNQX inhibited not only KA-induced myoblast fusion but also spontaneous myoblast fusion. Therefore, these results suggest that KA receptors are involved in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase in myoblasts and then may play an important role in myoblast fusion.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 1988

Various types of evidence suggest that some changes in cellular in cellular calcium may well signal the initiation of a chain of events leading to the physiological effects of the bone resorbing agents. The effects of 1,25-dihydorxycholecalciferol, $1.25\textrm{(OH)}_2\textrm{D}_3$, Ca ionophore A23187 and calcium antagonist, diltiazem on bone resprption and the cellular transport of Ca were investigated. Bone $^{45}\textrm{Ca}$ desaturation experiment was realized in isolated heterogenous rat bone cells after equilibrating the cells with $^{45}\textrm{Ca}$. Results of $^{45}\textrm{Ca}$ desaturation experiments were analysed by fitting the $^{45}\textrm{Ca}$ desaturation curve to a model of 2 exponential terms which indicated the presence of 2 exchangeable cellular calcium pools. $1.25\textrm{(OH)}_2\textrm{D}_3$ (0.5ng/$m\ell$) induced significantly bone resorption which was decreased by the physiological dose of diltiazeme(above 5nmol/$m\ell$) although it was ineffective alone. Ionophore A23187 (0.2$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) decreased Ca release from bone but no additivity of effect with diltiazem(20nmol/$m\ell$) was observed. $1.25\textrm{(OH)}_2\textrm{D}_3$ (0.5ng/$10^{6}$ cells) had a moderate effect on the two kinetic phases of $^{45}\textrm{Ca}$ desaturation curve and these values were normalized when diltiazeme (20nmol/$10^{6}$ cells) was added along with $1.25\textrm{(OH)}_2\textrm{D}_3$. Ionophore($0.05\mu\textrm{g}$/$10^{6}$ cells) alone increased specifically the value of the slow turnover rate which was not affected by addition of diltiazem. The hypothesis concerning the involvement of calcium in bone resorption seems in fact to be verified in case of $1.25\textrm{(OH)}_2\textrm{D}_3$ but more unsettled for Ca inophore A23187.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.59 no.4
• /
• pp.158-163
• /
• 2015

Cardiac myocytes are subjected to fluid shear stress during each contraction and relaxation. Under pathological conditions, such as valve disease, heart failure or hypertension, shear stress in cardiac chamber increases due to high blood volume and pressure. The shear stress induces proarrhythmic longitudinal global $Ca^{2+}$ waves in atrial myocytes. In the present study, we further explored underlying cellular mechanism for the shear stress-induced longitudinal global $Ca^{2+}$ wave in isolated rat atrial myocytes. A shear stress of ${\sim}16dyn/cm^2$ was applied onto entire single myocyte using pressurized fluid puffing. Confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging was performed to measure local and global $Ca^{2+}$ signals. Shear stress elicited longitudinally propagating global $Ca^{2+}$ wave (${\sim}80{\mu}m/s$). The occurrence of shear stress-induced atrial $Ca^{2+}$ wave was eliminated by the inhibition of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors ($IP_3Rs$). In addition, pretreatment of phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, but not its inactive analogue U73343, abolished the generation of longitudinal $Ca^{2+}$ wave under shear stress. Our data suggest that shear-induced longitudinal $Ca^{2+}$ wave may be induced by $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release through the RyRs which is triggered by $PLC-IP_3R$ signaling in atrial myocytes.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.645-654
• /
• 2004

This study examined the effect of excess calcium (Ca) on the iron (Fe) bioavailability and bone growth of marginally Fe deficient animals. Two groups of weanling female SD rats were fed either normal Fe (35 ppm) or Fe deficient diet (8 ppm) for 3 weeks. Then each group of animals were assigned randomly to one of three groups and were fed one of six experimental diets additionally for 4 weeks, containing normal (35 ppm) or low (15 ppm) Fe and one of three levels of Ca as normal (0.5%), high (1.0%), or excess (1.5%). Feces and urine were collected during the last 3 days of treatment. After sacrifice blood, organs, and femur bone were collected for analysis. Final body weight and average food intake were not affected by either the levels of dietary Ca or Fe. Low Fe diet significantly reduced the level of serum ferritin, however, for Hb, Hct, and TIBC no difference was shown than those in the normal Fe group. TIBC increased slightly by high and excess Ca intake in low Fe groups. For both normal and low Fe groups, high and excess Ca intakes reduced the apparent absorption of Fe and Fe contents of liver significantly (p < 0.05). Calcium contents in kidney and Femur of rats that were fed high and excess levels of Ca were significantly greater than those of normal Ca groups. However, weight, length, and breaking force of the bone were not affected by increased Ca intakes. Both in control and low Fe groups, high and excess intakes of Ca decreased the apparent absorption of Ca. These results indicate that the excess intakes of calcium than the normal needs would be undesirable for Fe bioavailability and that the adverse effects be more serious in marginally iron deficient growing animals. In addition bone growth and strength would not be favorably affected by high Ca intakes, though, the long term effect of increased Ca contents in bone requires further examination.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 1999

Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin caused platelet cytolysis and increased intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ of rat platelets in a concentration-dependent manner. In the presence of V. vulnificus cytolysin (3 HU/ml), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was increased from $1.3{\pm}0.4%$ of control to $64.3{\pm}3.4%$ in platelet suspension buffer. In $Ca^{2+}-free$ platelet suspension buffer, however, V. vulnificus cytolysin did not induce $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase and LDH release. Addition of EGTA (2 mM) to suspension buffer after the initial $Ca^{2+}$ influx reversed $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ to the control level. However, a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker verapamil $(20\;{\mu}M)$ or mefenamic acid $(20\;{\mu}M)$ did not inhibit V. vulnificus cytolysin-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase and LDH release. Divalent cations such as $Co^{2+},\;Cd^{2+}\;or\;Mn^{2+}$ (2 mM each) also did not alter V. vulnificus cytolysin-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase and LDH release. V. vulnificus cytolysin (3 HU/ml)-induced calcium influx was completely blocked by lanthanum (2 mM). Lanthanum (2 mM) also completely blocked V. vulnificus cytolysin (3 HU/ml)-induced LDH release. Osmotic protectants such as, raffinose, sucrose or PEG600 (50 mM each) did not inhibit the lytic activity of V. vulnificus cytolysin. In conclusion, lanthanum sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ influx plays a significant role in Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin-induced platelet cytolysis and thrombocytopenia in V. vulnificus infection.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.1071-1074
• /
• 1997

The Effect of $Ca^{++}$, $K^+$ and $Mg^{++}$ on salting of radish was investigated. Up to 0.2 M of $Ca^{++}$ and/or $K^+$, sodium chloride content of radish increased respectively, comparing with no addition of these ions. The salting effect of radish incereased in proportion to the concentration ($0{\sim}0.01\;M$) of $Ca^{++}$ and/or $K^+$ in the salting solution up to 0.2 M, while there was no influence of $Mg^{++}$. When $Mg^{++}$ and $Ca^{++}/Mg^{++}$ and $K^+$ were added to brine solution, $Ca^{++}$ or $K^+$ influenced the salting effect of radish and $Mg^{++}$ did not.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.36-42
• /
• 1993

In the presence of $Ca^{2+}$ ion, the charge transfer (CT) interaction of nonionic surfactants, $nonylphenol-(ethylene oxide)_n\;[NP-(EO)_n; n = 11, 40, 100]$ with iodine in aqueous solution were investigated by UV-visible spectrophotometer. The characteristics of spectra depended on the concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ion and the number of EO unit. Above CMC, the intensity of the CT band by the addition of $Ca^{2+}$ ion for the $NP-(EO)_{11}$ and $NP-(EO)_{40}$ increased and then decreased, while for the $NP-(EO)_{100}$ continuously increased. The increase in the intensity of CT band were attributed to the compactness of micelle in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$ ion. These phenomena may be explained by the fact that the linear ethylene oxide (EO) chain, to be free configuration in aqueous solution, could form a pseudo-crown ether structures capable of forming complexes with $Ca^{2+}$ ion.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.11
• /
• pp.804-811
• /
• 2014

The protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure via the modulation of peripheral vascular tone. Although several mechanisms have been suggested to explain PAR-2-induced hypotension, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. To investigate this possibility, we investigated the effects of PAR-2 activation on N-type $Ca^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ca-N}$) in isolated neurons of the celiac ganglion (CG), which is involved in the sympathetic regulation of mesenteric artery vascular tone. PAR-2 agonists irreversibly diminished voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ currents ($I_{Ca}$), measured using the patch-clamp method, in rat CG neurons, whereas thrombin had little effect on $I_{Ca}$. This PAR-2-induced inhibition was almost completely prevented by ${\omega}$-CgTx, a potent N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, suggesting the involvement of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels in PAR-2-induced inhibition. In addition, PAR-2 agonists inhibited $I_{Ca-N}$ in a voltage-independent manner in rat CG neurons. Moreover, PAR-2 agonists reduced action potential (AP) firing frequency as measured using the current-clamp method in rat CG neurons. This inhibition of AP firing induced by PAR-2 agonists was almost completely prevented by ${\omega}$-CgTx, indicating that PAR-2 activation may regulate the membrane excitability of peripheral sympathetic neurons through modulation of N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that the activation of PAR-2 suppresses peripheral sympathetic outflow by modulating N-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel activity, which appears to be involved in PAR-2-induced hypotension, in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.112-118
• /
• 1981

A study was made on the processing of domestic blast furnace slag by flotation and chemical purification for the use of slag as a raw material in making soda lime glasses. Feasibility study has been made for the use of reprocessing slag as a source material for both coloring and chemical components (such as CaO, $Al_2O_3$, MgO and etc.) in the glass making process. Chemical composition of chemically purified slags ranges; $SiO_2$ 34.5~37.5, $Al_2O_3$, 16.2~14.1, $Fe_2O_3$ 0.33~0.14, CaO 34.5~38.8, MgO 4.0~5.2, NmO 0.16~0.39, $TiO_2$ 0.23~0.35, S 0.08~0.42, ignition loss 3.3~8.4 and others 0.48~0.51%. It was found that either amber or greenish color could be easily obtained with the addition of salg up to 24%, however the slag addition to glass batches much impaired the transmitancy of glass products, thus a glass made with 7% slag addition showed 82% in transmitancy value at 510 nm.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.228-237
• /
• 2005

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the red water reducing effects of phosphate based inhibitor when it was applied to water distribution system. The effects of pH, alkalinity, calcium concentration in the reduction of the red water also studied. The most finished water in Korea showed relatively high corrosiveness and was required to introduce some types of corrosion reducing methods such as addition of alkalinity. The precipitation of $CaCO_3$ by addition of $Ca(OH)_2$ formed porous film on the surface of the carbon steel pipes and was displaced easily from the surface of the pipes; on the other hand, addition of zinc phosphate (ZOP) formed reliable film on the surface and reduced iron release and color. Although the main function of ZOP was to suppress the release of Pb and Cu, it also reduced iron concentration released from water distribution pipes.