Changes of intracellular Ca++ as measured by arsenazo III in relation to the K permeability of human erythrocyte ghosts

Internal magnesium, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, and the regulation of the steady-state volume of human red blood cells by the Na/K/2Cl cotransport system

This study is concerned with the relationship between the Na/K/Cl cotransport system and the steady-state volume (MCV) of red blood cells. Cotransport rate was determined in unfractionated and density-separated red cells of different MCV from different donors to see whether cotransport differences contribute to the difference in the distribution of MCVs. Cotransport, studied in cells at their original MCVs, was determined as the bumetanide (10 microM)-sensitive 22Na efflux in the presence of ouabain (50 microM) after adjusting cellular Na (Nai) and Ki to achieve near maximal transport rates. This condition was chosen to rule out MCV-related differences in Nai and Ki that might contribute to differences in the net chemical driving force for cotransport. We found that in both unfractionated and density-separated red cells the cotransport rate was inversely correlated with MCV. MCV was correlated directly with red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG), whereas total red cell Mg was only slightly elevated in cells with high MCV. Thus intracellular free Mg (Mgifree) is evidently lower in red cells with high 2,3-DPG (i.e., high MCV) and vice versa. Results from flux measurements at their original MCVs, after altering Mgifree with the ionophore A23187, indicated a high Mgi sensitivity of cotransport: depletion of Mgifree inhibited and an elevation of Mgifree increased the cotransport rate. The apparent K0.5 for Mgifree was approximately 0.4 mM. Maximizing Mgifree at optimum Nai and Ki minimized the differences in cotransport rates among the different donors. It is concluded that the relative cotransport rate is regulated for cells in the steady state at their original cell volume, not by the number of copies of the cotransporter but by differences in Mgifree. The interindividual differences in Mgifree, determined primarily by differences in the 2,3-DPG content, are responsible for the differences in the relative cotransport activity that results in an inverse relationship with in vivo differences in MCV. Indirect evidence indicates that the relative cotransport rate, as indexed by Mgifree, is determined by the phosphorylated level of the cotransport system.

Calmodulin activation of the Ca2+ pump revealed by fluorescent chelator dyes in human red blood cell ghosts

Ca2+ transport in red blood cell ghosts was monitored with fura2 or quin2 incorporated as the free acid during resealing. This is the first report of active transport monitored by the fluorescent intensity of the chelator dyes fura2 (5-50 microM) or quin2 (250 microM) in hemoglobin-depleted ghosts. Since there are no intracellular compartments in ghosts and the intracellular concentrations of all assay chelator substances including calmodulin (CaM), the dyes, and ATP could be set, the intracellular concentrations of free and total Ca [( Cafree]i and [Catotal]i) could be calculated during the transport. Ghosts prepared with or without CaM rapidly extruded Ca2+ to a steady-state concentration of 60-100 nM. A 10(4)-fold gradient for Ca2+ was routinely produced in medium containing 1 mM Ca2+. During active Ca2+ extrusion, d[Cafree]i/dt was a second order function of [Cafree]i and was independent of the dye concentration, whereas d[Catotal]i/dt increased as a first order function of both the [Cafree]i and the concentration of the Ca:dye complex. CaM (5 microM) increased d[Catotal]i/dt by 400% at 1 microM [Cafree]i, while d[Cafree]i/dt increased by only 25%. From a series of experiments we conclude that chelated forms of Ca2+ serve as substrates for the pump under permissive control of the [Cafree]i, and this dual effect may explain cooperativity. Free Ca2+ is extruded, and probably also Ca2+ bound to CaM or other chelators, while CaM and the chelators are retained in the cell.

Anion-coupled Na efflux mediated by the human red blood cell Na/K pump

The red cell Na/K pump is known to continue to extrude Na when both Na and K are removed from the external medium. Because this ouabain-sensitive flux occurs in the absence of an exchangeable cation, it is referred to as uncoupled Na efflux. This flux is also known to be inhibited by 5 mM Nao but to a lesser extent than that inhibitable by ouabain. Uncoupled Na efflux via the Na/K pump therefore can be divided into a Nao-sensitive and Nao-insensitive component. We used DIDS-treated, SO4-equilibrated human red blood cells suspended in HEPES-buffered (pHo 7.4) MgSO4 or (Tris)2SO4, in which we measured 22Na efflux, 35SO4 efflux, and changes in the membrane potential with the fluorescent dye, diS-C3 (5). A principal finding is that uncoupled Na efflux occurs electroneurally, in contrast to the pump's normal electrogenic operation when exchanging Nai for Ko. This electroneutral uncoupled efflux of Na was found to be balanced by an efflux of cellular anions. (We were unable to detect any ouabain-sensitive uptake of protons, measured in an unbuffered medium at pH 7.4 with a Radiometer pH-STAT.) The Nao-sensitive efflux of Nai was found to be 1.95 +/- 0.10 times the Nao-sensitive efflux of (SO4)i, indicating that the stoichiometry of this cotransport is two Na+ per SO4=, accounting for 60-80% of the electroneutral Na efflux. The remainder portion, that is, the ouabain-sensitive Nao-insensitive component, has been identified as PO4-coupled Na transport and is the subject of a separate paper. That uncoupled Na efflux occurs as a cotransport with anions is supported by the result, obtained with resealed ghosts, that when internal and external SO4 was substituted by the impermeant anion, tartrate i,o, the efflux of Na was inhibited 60-80%. This inhibition could be relieved by the inclusion, before DIDS treatment, of 5 mM Cli,o. Addition of 10 mM Ko to tartrate i,o ghosts, with or without Cli,o, resulted in full activation of Na/K exchange and the pump's electrogenicity. Although it can be concluded that Na efflux in the uncoupled mode occurs by means of a cotransport with cellular anions, the molecular basis for this change in the internal charge structure of the pump and its change in ion selectivity is at present unknown.

Measurement and manipulation of cytoplasmic free calcium of ram and boar spermatozoa using quin 2

The highly selective fluorescent Ca2+ indicator 'quin 2' has been loaded into ram and boar spermatozoa as the acetoxymethyl ester, 'quin 2/AM', which is hydrolysed and trapped in the cytoplasm. Loadings of several mM were not toxic to spermatozoa as judged by motility. Fluorescence measurements (mean +/- S.E.M.) indicated a normal cytoplasmic free-calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, of 193 nM +/- 0.2 (n = 10) for ejaculated ram sperm, 175 nM +/- 3.9 (n = 10) for cauda epididymal boar sperm and 105 nM +/- 10 (n = 10) for the caput sperm. After cold shock ejaculated ram and cauda epididymal boar sperm did not retain quin 2, due presumably to structural damage. However, cold shocked caput boar sperm could be readily loaded with quin 2 and had a [Ca2+]i similar to control sperm. Sodium azide, propranolol and caffeine did not affect the [Ca2+]i of ram and boar sperm, however theophylline, dibutyryl c-AMP and La3+ significantly reduced it. The inhibitors rotenone and antimycin A, and the uncouplers 2,4-DNP and CCCP caused a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i, most likely resulting from release of mitochondrial calcium. The increased [Ca2+]i following addition of the ionophore A23187, was highly pH dependent in ram spermatozoa and it was critical to increase the pH of the medium above 7.5; the increase in [Ca2+]i was apparently not dependent on the oxidative metabolism of the sperm as addition of the uncouplers 2,4-DNP and CCCP had no effect on [Ca2+ )i. Addition of filipin to ram and boar sperm resulted in a large increase in [Ca2+]i but addition of filipin to ionophore-treated sperm caused [Ca2+]i to fall well below control levels.

Comparison of arsenazo III optical signals in intact and cut frog twitch fibers

The Ca indicator arsenazo III was introduced into cut frog twitch fibers by diffusion from end-pool segments rendered permeable by saponin. After 2-3 h, the arsenazo III concentration at the optical recording site in the center of a fiber reached two to three times that in the end-pool solutions. Thus, arsenazo III was bound to or taken up by intracellular constituents. The time course of indicator appearance was fitted by equations for diffusion plus linear reversible binding; on average, 0.73 of the indicator was bound and the free diffusion constant was 0.86 x 10(-6) cm2/s at 18 degrees C. When the indicator was removed from the end pools, it failed to diffuse away from the optical site as rapidly as it had diffused in. The wavelength dependence of resting arsenazo III absorbance was the same in cut fibers and injected intact fibers. After action potential stimulation, the active Ca and dichroic signals were similar in the two preparations, which indicates that arsenazo III undergoes the same changes in absorbance and orientation in both cut and intact fibers. Ca transients in freshly prepared cut fibers appeared to be similar to those in intact fibers. As a cut fiber experiment progressed, however, the Ca signal changed. With action potential stimulation, the half-width of the signal gradually increased, regardless of whether the indicator concentration was increasing or decreasing. This increase was usually not accompanied by any change in the amplitude of the Ca signal at a given indicator concentration or by any obvious deterioration in the electrical condition of the fiber. In voltage-clamp experiments near threshold, the relation between peak [Ca] and voltage usually became less steep with time and shifted to more negative potentials. All these changes were also observed in cut fibers containing antipyrylazo III (Maylie, J., M. Irving, N. L. Sizto, and W. K. Chandler. 1987. Journal of General Physiology. 89:83-143). They are considered to represent a progressive change in the physiological state of a cut fiber during the time course of an experiment.

Arsenazo III transients and calcium current in a normally non-spiking neuronal soma of crayfish

Arsenazo III was used to investigate Ca2+ transients in the normally non-excitable soma of the motor giant neurones of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Two kinds of regenerative potentials could be obtained depending on membrane potential conditioning: a fast spike after a pre-hyperpolarization to -90 mV and a slow action potential after a pre-depolarization to -50 mV. Only the second of these was accompanied by an Arsenazo III transient. In voltage-clamped, somata injected, with tetraethylammonium chloride, an absorbance change could be obtained by pulsing the membrane potential above -44 mV. The relationship between absorbance change and potential peaked between 0 and +10 mV then fell off to zero at ca. +150 mV. Changes in light absorbance studied using double-pulse protocols suggested that the inactivation of Ca2+ entry was predominantly mediated by the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. External application of 1 mM-CdCl2 abolished both the absorbance changes and the (Ca2+) inward current. The voltage dependence of this current was similar to that of the absorbance change. For positive membrane potential the current-voltage relationship showed a voltage-dependent conductance property, the origin of which is discussed.

Calcium-induced transient potassium efflux in human red blood cells

Human red blood cells pretreated with low-ionic-strength solutions and resuspended in saline respond biphasically to extracellular Ca. At first, addition of Ca causes a large transient K efflux of as much as 600 mM . liter cell H2O-1 . h-1; this is followed by a decrease in K flux below control levels. The first phase (phase I) resembles the Gardos effect in several respects. It is inhibited by oligomycin, by external K, and by increased exposure time to Ca. Further, the K permeability of phase I is similar to that of the Gardos effect (5 X 10(-8)-9 X 10(-8) cm/s), and the cells hyperpolarize in a low-K medium when Ca2+ is added. However, phase I is not identical to the Gardos phenomenon. For example, La, which prevents the Gardos response, is ineffective on phase I. Moreover, external Ba prevents the development of phase I but not the Gardos response, whereas internal Ba prevents the Gardos response. Attempts to demonstrate a Ca leak or pump failure during phase I have failed; passive Ca movements of both treated and normal cells are similar. The results suggest that low-ionic-strength solution exposes Ca-sensitive sites to the external medium; these sites are maintained when the cells are returned to saline.

The effect of ethanol on the passive Ca permeability of human red cell ghosts measured by means of arsenazo III

Ethanol in the range of 0.76-2.40 M caused an immediate increase in the Ca permeability of the plasma membrane of resealed human red blood cell ghosts in which intracellular free Ca could be continuously monitored by means of the Ca chromophore arsenazo III. At a given concentration of ethanol, the Ca permeability increased markedly a few minutes following the mixing of the ghosts and the ethanol, and continued to increase over at least the next 30 min. Preincubating the ghosts in ethanol for 15, 60 and 120 min before measuring the rate of free Ca accumulation, progressively increased the effect of a given concentration of ethanol. These results indicate that the effect of a given concentration of ethanol is a complex function of concentration and exposure time. The effects of ethanol in this concentration range were completely reversible. The resealed ghosts used in these experiments were depleted of ATP to avoid interference from the Ca pump and all experiments were carried out with 150 mM KCl on both sides of the membrane to minimize changes in either the volume or membrane potential associated with activation of the Ca-dependent K channel.

Arsenazo III calcium transients and latency relaxation in frog skeletal muscle fibres at different sarcomere lengths

Single, intact, frog muscle fibres were injected electrophoretically with a Ca2+-sensitive metallochromic dye, Arsenazo III, to a local concentration of 1.2-1.5 mmol/l. The intracellular concentration of free Mg2+, estimated photometrically in the presence of approximately millimolar Arsenazo III, was 3-4 mmol/l in fibres at rest. Ca2+-related changes in dye absorbance were characterized in vitro using 1 mM-Arsenazo III in solutions approximating the intracellular ionic environment. Isometric twitch contractions and related changes in light transmittance of dye-injected regions of fibre were recorded at 2.4 and 3.0 micron sarcomere lengths, at 15 degrees C. A method was developed for separating Ca2+ transients from larger, movement-related optical changes recorded as compound signals during fibre contraction. Decreases in twitch amplitude by about one-third following dye injection, together with the in vitro characteristics of the dye, suggested that millimolar intracellular Arsenazo III acted as a major Ca2+ buffer and inhibited the activation of contractile filaments. The onset of both the Ca2+ transient and latency relaxation occurred at virtually the same time in the twitch response and neither of those transition times was altered significantly with changes in sarcomere length from 2.4 to 3.0 micron. The amount of activation Ca2+ released in dye-injected regions of fibres following a single stimulus was about 0.3 mmol/l at 2.4 micron sarcomere length. The rate of rise and the amplitude of the Ca2+ transient were reversibly decreased with increase in sarcomere length from 2.4 to 3.0 micron. That finding is reviewed in relation to other evidence indicating length dependence of the intracellular release and distribution of activation Ca2+ up to 3.9 micron sarcomere length.

Passive Ca transport in human red blood cell ghosts measured with entrapped arsenazo III

The rate of Ca influx into ghosts containing arsenazo III changes with time, being most rapid during the first 5 min after Ca is added to the outside and declining thereafter. The rate of Ca influx is a nonlinear function of extracellular Ca and plateaus as the latter is increased above 1 mM. The rate of Ca influx was measured as a function of the transmembrane gradients of Na and K and changes in the permeability of the membrane to K and Cl produced by valinomycin and SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyano-stilbene-2-2'-disulfonic acid), respectively. Changes in the rate of Ca influx are consistent with expected effects of these treatments on the membrane potential. Oligomycin (10 micrograms/ml) and quinidine (1 mM) inhibit the rate of Ca uptake by inhibiting Ca-induced changes in the K permeability. At constant membrane potential, furosemide produced a slight (15%) consistent increase in Ca uptake. Other experiments show that resealed ghosts are heterogeneous in their passive permeability to Ca and that A23187 can be used to effectively eliminate such differences. The results of this paper show that resealed human red cell ghosts containing arsenazo III can be used to continuously monitor intracellular free Ca and to study the factors that influence the permeability of the red cell membrane to Ca.

Ca-induced K transport in human red blood cell ghosts containing arsenazo III. Transmembrane interactions of Na, K, and Ca and the relationship to the functioning Na-K pump

Increasing free intracellular Ca (Cai) from less than 0.1 microM to 10 microM by means of A23187 activated Ca-stimulated K transport and inhibited the Na-K pump in resealed human red cell ghosts. These ghosts contained 2 mM ATP, which was maintained by a regenerating system, and arsenazo III to measure Cai. Ca-stimulated K transport was activated 50% at 2-3 microM free Cai and the Na-K pump was inhibited 50% by 5-10 microM free Cai. Free Cai from 1 to 8 microM stimulated K efflux before it inhibited the Na-K pump, dissociating the effect of Ca on the two systems. 3 microM trifluoperazine inhibited Ca-stimulated K efflux and 0.5 mM quinidine reduced Na-K pumping by 50%. In other studies, incubating fresh intact cells in solutions containing Ca and 0.5 microM A23187 caused the cells to lose K heterogeneously. Under the same conditions, increasing A23187 to 10 microM initiated a homogeneous loss of K. In ATP-deficient ghosts containing Cai equilibrated with A23187, K transport was activated at the same free Cai as in the ghosts containing 2 mM ATP. Neither Cao nor the presence of an inward Ca gradient altered the effect of free Cai on the permeability to K. In these ghosts, transmembrane interactions of Na and K influenced the rate of Ca-stimulated K efflux independent of Na- and K-induced changes in free Cai or sensitivity to Cai. At constant free Cai, increasing Ko from 0.1 to 3 mM stimulated K efflux, whereas further increasing Ko inhibited it. Increasing Nai at constant Ki and free Cai markedly decreased the rate of efflux at 2 mM Ko, but had no effect when Ko was greater than or equal to 20 mM. These transmembrane interactions indicate that the mechanism underlying Ca-stimulated K transport is mediated. Since these interactions from either side of the membrane are independent of free Cai, activation of the transport mechanism by Cai must be at a site that is independent of those responsible for the interaction of Na and K. In the presence of A23187, this activating site is half-maximally stimulated by approximately 2 microM free Ca and is not influenced by the concentration of ATP. The partial inhibition of Ca-stimulated K efflux by trifluoperazine in ghosts containing ATP suggests that calmodulin could be involved in the activation of K transport by Cai.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Intracellular free Ca and Mg of human red blood cell ghosts measured with entrapped arsenazo III

Arsenazo III in human red cell ghosts is calibrated to measure intracellular concentrations of free Ca and free Mg. This calibration was established by comparing the absorbance of arsenazo III in ghosts to its absorption in solution at 600, 630, and 655 nm as a function of buffered free Ca (0.4 microM to 70 microM), free Mg (0.05 to 5 mM), and free Ca (4 to 50 microM) at constant free Mg (1.2 mM) at three concentrations of total dye (1.09, 10.9, and 109 microM). In both ghosts and in solution the absorbance of the dye at all three wavelengths could be predicted from dissociation constants and molar extinction coefficients determined for a 1:1 complex with the dye and Mg, another with Ca, and a third complex consisting of two molecules of Ca and two of dye. The absorbance of the dye in ghosts at the same concentrations of free Ca, free Mg, and total dye is equal to that in solution multiplied by the percentage hematocrit and divided by 100, which demonstrates that arsenazo III responds the same inside ghosts as it does free in solution. The results of this paper show that arsenazo III can be used to measure quantitatively and to monitor continuously the concentration of intracellular Ca and Mg in red cell ghosts. Use of this method should facilitate the study of Ca-dependent mechanisms of red blood cells.

Membrane potentials associated with Ca-induced K conductance in human red blood cells: studies with a fluorescent oxonol dye, WW 781

A divalent anionic dye, bis-[3-methyl-1-p-sulfophenyl-5-pyrazolone-(4)]-pentamethine oxonol (WW 781) is a rapidly responding fluorescent indicator of KCl diffusion potentials induced in human red blood cells with valinomycin, gramicidin, and with the Ca ionophore A 23187 in the presence of external Ca. WW 781 has a sensitivity of 0.13% delta F/mV, a detection limit of 10 mV, a response time of less than 1 sec, and exhibits a decrease in fluorescence intensity upon hyperpolarization without detectable shifts in absorption or emission peaks. This dye does not perturb the normal resting potential, and unlike the slow permeant cyanine dyes, does not inhibit Ca-induced K conductance in human red blood cells. However, WW 781 does stimulate Ca-induced unidirectional Rb efflux. With Ca plus A 23187, the initial rapid change in dye fluorescence is sensitive to [Ca]o and to [A 23187], is reversible with excess EGTA, and is inhibited by quinine, oligomycin, and by trifluoperazine. A biphasic dependence of hyperpolarization on Ko is evident at pH 6, where the ionic selectivity of activation is K, Rb greater than Cs greater than Na and that of conductance is K, Rb greater than Cs. Conditions were defined which permitted continuous monitoring of Em for at least 10 min, and the time dependence of the Ca-induced potentials was characterized. Since the properties of the Ca-induced changes in dye fluorescence correlate well with the known characteristics of Ca-induced K permeability, we conclude that WW 781 is a useful indicator of changes in Em, provided that sufficient controls are employed to separate direct effects of Ca on dye fluorescence from the effects of Em on fluorescence.

Optical measurements of intracellular pH and magnesium in frog skeletal muscle fibres

1. Single twitch fibres were isolated from frog muscle, then mounted in a chamber which was positioned on an optical bench. The fibres were immobilized by high stretch (sarcomere spacing 3.9-4.3 mum) and by placement on a pedestal. Their optical properties were determined by illuminating a 35-65 mum diameter spot with quasimonochromatic light of intensity I(0) and measuring the intensity I of the transmitted light. Since the main purpose of the experiments was to draw inferences from the absorbance spectra of different indicator dyes injected into the fibres, all results were expressed in terms of absorbance A calculated from the equation [Formula: see text]. Changes in absorbance DeltaA were calculated from the differential form of the equation [Formula: see text].2. The absorbance of a normal, non-injected fibre was, on average, equal to 0.03 at 570 nm and varied approximately inversely with wavelength between 450 and 750 nm.3. The earliest change in absorbance following an action potential was a small, transient increase which was followed by a larger decrease. The decrease in fibre absorbance varied from 0.5 x 10(-4) to 3 x 10(-4) units.4. Resting myoplasmic pH was determined by comparing the absorbance spectrum from fibres injected with Phenol Red with that obtained from calibrating solutions in cuvettes. The muscle measurements were corrected for the intrinsic absorbance of fibre without dye. The average value of pH in two fibres was 6.9. The change in absorbance following an action potential in these highly stretched fibres was small. In one experiment the change, if due to pH alone, corresponded to an increase in pH of 0.004 peak and 0.002 maintained (relative to a resting level of 6.9). The maintained signal can be satisfactorily explained by the known amount of phosphocreatine hydrolysis.5. Estimates of myoplasmic free [Mg(2+)] were made using three metallochromic indicator dyes. A different estimate was obtained with each dye as indicated below. Since these dyes are sensitive to pH, as well as [Mg(2+)], the estimate depends on the assumed value of intracellular pH. [List: see text] This variability probably means that at least two, and possibly all three dyes behave differently inside muscle fibres than they do in calibrating solutions. The most likely explanation is that dye, once injected, can bind to cellular contents and that this alters its properties.6. Changes in absorbance of fibres injected with Arsenazo I, a dye three times more sensitive to Mg(2+) than to Ca(2+), were used to determine whether changes in free [Mg(2+)] occur following an action potential. The observed changes were small and could be due to a small increase in pH, of the magnitude measured with Phenol Red, and/or free [Mg(2+)]. In terms of a change in free [Mg(2+)], the results set an upper limit of 2%.7. The conclusion from the action potential experiments is that neither intracellular pH nor free [Mg(2+)] changes appreciably in highly stretched fibres. Changes in these two quantities can therefore be neglected in analysing the relatively large 650-660 nm Ca(2+) signal in fibres injected with the Ca(2+) (but also pH and Mg(2+)) sensitive indicator dye Arsenazo III.

Arsenazo III and antipyrylazo III calcium transients in single skeletal muscle fibers

The metallochrome calcium indicators arsenazo III and antipyrylazo III have been introduced individually into cut single frog skeletal muscle fibers from which calcium transients have been elicited either by action potential stimulation or by voltage-clamp pulses of up to 50 ms in duration. Calcium transients recorded with both dyes at selected wavelengths have similar characteristics when elicited by action potentials. Longer voltage-clamp pulse stimulation reveals differences in the late phases of the optical signals obtained with the two dyes. The effects of different tension blocking methods on Ca transients were compared experimentally. Internal application of EGTA at concentrations up to 3 mM was demonstrated to be efficient in blocking movement artifacts without affecting Ca transients. Higher EGTA concentrations affect the Ca signals' characteristics. Differential effects of internally applied EGTA on tension development as opposed to calcium transients suggest that diffusion with binding from Ca++ release sites to filament overlap sites may be significant. The spectral characteristics of the absorbance transients recorded with arsenazo III suggest that in situ recorded signals cannot be easily interpreted in terms of Ca concentration changes. A more exhaustic knowledge of the dye chemistry and/or in situ complications in the use of the dye will be necessary.

A non-disruptive technique for loading calcium buffers and indicators into cells

Present methods for measuring or buffering intracellular free calcium concentrations are almost entirely limited to robust and well anchored cells which can tolerate insertion of ion-selective microelectrodes or microinjection of calcium indicators or buffers into one cell at a time. A very few types of small cells can be loaded with buffers or indicators during controlled lysis, but such procedures grossly perturb membrane integrity and soluble cytoplasmic constituents. Liposome fusion releases only trace quantities of the trapped solute into the cytoplasm and incorporates foreign lipid into the target cell membranes. I now describe a simple technique which loads Ca2+-selective chelators into the cytoplasm of intact cells in suspension and avoids the disadvantages of previous methods. The chelators are made temporarily membrane permeable by masking their four carboxylates with special esterifying groups which then hydrolyse inside the cells, regenerating and trapping the original chelators. The method is demonstrated on red cells, mast cells and lymphocytes.

The influence of infusion rate on the acute intravenous toxicity of phytic acid, a calcium-binding agent

The intravenous toxicity of phytic acid (inositol hexakisphosphate, IHP) has recently become of interest because of the potential for IHP incorporation into red blood cells to achieve a therapeutically useful shift in the hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve (Gersonde, K. and Nicolau, C., Blut, 39 (1979) 1). The observed acute intravenous toxicity of IHP in rodents is consistent with its recognized capacity to bind calcium. The toxic manifestations of intravenous IHP are a function of rate of infusion as well as total dose, with some seemingly anomalous variations which may related to compensatory mechanisms. The data suggest that significant alterations of plasma calcium and the toxic potential of such alterations are not likely to result from the administration of red blood cells with IHP incorporated.

Calcium buffering in presynaptic nerve terminals. Free calcium levels measured with arsenazo III

The particulate fraction from osmotically shocked synaptosomes ('synaptosomal membrances') sequesters Ca when incubated with ATP]containing solutions. This net accumulation of Ca can reduce the free [Ca2+] of the bathing medium to sub-micromolar levels (measured with arsenazo III). Two distinct types of Ca sequestration site are responsible for the Ca2+ buffering. One site, presumed to be smooth endoplasmic reticulum, operates at low [Ca2+] (less than 1 microM), and has a relatively small capacity. Ca sequestration at this site is prevented by the Ca2+ ionophore, A-23187, but not by mitochondrial poisons. The secone (mitochondrial) site, in contrast, is blocked by the mitochondrial uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, and oligomycin. Since the intraterminal organelles can buffer [Ca2+] to about 0.3-0.5 microM, this may be an upper limit to the normal resting level of [Ca2+]i in nerve terminals. In the steady state, total cell Ca and [Ca2+]i will be governed principally be Ca transport mechanisms in the plasmalemma; the intracellular organelle transport systems then operate in equilibrium with this [Ca2+]. During activity, however, Ca rapidly enters the terminals and [Ca2+]i rises. The intracellular buffering mechanisms then come into play and help to return [Ca2+]i toward the resting level; the non-mitochondrial Ca sequestration mechanism probably plays the major role in this Ca buffering.

The use of isolated membrane vesicles to study epithelial transport processes

Epithelia are multicompartment and multicomponent systems performing transcellular and paracellular transport in a very complex manner. One way to get a deeper understanding of the function of such a complex system is to dissect it into the single components and then, after having defined the components under well-controlled conditions, to try to describe the behavior of the whole system on the basis of the properties of the single components. This article deals with the analysis of isolated plasma membranes derived from the luminal and contraluminal face of epithelial cells, predominantly renal proximal tubular and small intestinal cells. It is aimed to give an overview of methods used to isolate and separate plasma membranes, to study their transport properties as membrane vesicles, and also to address the question of how information gained with the isolated membranes corresponds to observations made in the intact cell using other, notably electrophysiological, measurements. The review also critically evaluates the limitations of the approach and thereby tries to set the work on isolated membranes in the proper perspective within the field of transport physiology.

Manganese as a calcium probe: electron paramagnetic resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of intact cells

When Lettree cells are exposed to Mn2+, the cation becomes associated with cells in two ways: in a relatively loose and mobile manner that gives a six-line EPR spectrum designated Mnb*, and in an immobile, relatively tight manner that gives no detectable EPR specrtum, designated Mnb. Mnb* is probably on the surface of cells; most Mnb is probably inside cells. NMR measurements of Lettree cell suspensions show two water proton relaxation rates and confirm the existence of cell-associated Mn. Human erythrocytes, on the other hand, bind no Mn2+ under these conditions, as judged by EPR and NMR measurements. Virally-treated Lettree cells show an increase in Mnb (but not in Mnb*). They also show a third water proton relaxation rate.