Gender difference in the basal intracellular Ca2+ concentration in rat valvular endothelial cells

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

ISSN

0006-291X

Volume

248

Issue

3

DOI

10.1006/bbrc.1998.9068

First Page

916

Last Page

919

Publication Date

7-30-1998

Abstract

Intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca ](i)) was measured by Fura 2/AM fluorescence imaging microscopy in freshly isolated valvular endothelial cells taken from female and male rats. The basal level of [Ca ]i was significantly elevated in female valvular endothelial cells when compared to males (P < 0.05). Inhibition of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca -ATPase with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, 10 μM) caused a greater increase in the [Ca ](i) in female than male endothelial cells. Removal of extracellular Ca returned the [Ca ](i) to the basal level. The rate of [Ca ](i) decline was significantly slower in female endothelial cells compared to males. There were no differences in the unstimulated rate of Mn quenching between two groups. These results demonstrate that estrogen affects NOS at least in part, by an alteration in Ca homeostasis in endothelial cells. 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+

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