Effect of paeoniflorin on the calcium ion concentration in salivary gland cells using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of paeoniflorin, the main monomer component of Jinxueyuan granules, on the Ca2+ concentrations in salivary gland cells to further explore the salivation-promoting mechanism and effective monomer components of Jinxueyuan granules. METHODS The salivary gland cells of suckling rats were cultured in vitro and loaded with a Fluo-3AM fluorescent probe, and changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations were observed using a confocal laser scanning microscope. RESULTS No significant changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations were demonstrated (P>0.05) in the paeoniflorin-free Hank's media treatment group or in the higher-dose paeoniflorin (10-2 mol/L) Hank's media treatment group; however, a significant increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the lower-dose paeoniflorin (10-4 mol/L) treatment group was observed (P=0.001). Further study showed that treatment with the calcium channel blocker verapamil hydrochloride or with Ca2+-free D-Hank's media did not block the paeoniflorin-induced (10-4 mol/L) increase in intracellular Ca2+ (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Paeoniflorin promotes the release of endogenous calcium to upregulate the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Further studies should be performed to investigate the association between paeoniflorin and the Ca2+ concentration in salivary gland cells and to elucidate the corresponding functional pathways.