Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons leading to paralysis and death. Mutations of the human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are found in some cases of familial ALS (fALS). Recent evidences suggest the accumulation of intracellular calcium is one of the primary mechanisms of motor neuronal degeneration. In th...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons leading to paralysis and death. Mutations of the human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are found in some cases of familial ALS (fALS). Recent evidences suggest the accumulation of intracellular calcium is one of the primary mechanisms of motor neuronal degeneration. In th...

Background: Parthenogenetic activation of mammalian oocytes using artificial stimuli is commonly used in various reproductive bio-techniques. Calcium ionophore is known to elevate intracellular calcium levels in the cytoplasm of oocytes through the influx of calcium from extracellular spaces. Ethanol promotes a single intracellular Ca2+ increase of greater and longer amplitude than the initial ...

Bitter substances are a structurally diverse group of compounds that appear to act via several transduction mechanisms. The bitter-tasting denatonium ion has been proposed to act via two different G-protein-regulated pathways, one involving inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate and raised intracellular calcium levels, the other involving phosphodiesterase and membrane depolarization via a cyclic nucleo...

The stress of parturition in the dairy cow is associated with increased susceptibility to infectious disease. During the periparturient period the demands for calcium are increased; these increased demands for calcium can result in subclinical or clinical hypocalcemia. Periparturient cows also experience significant immune suppression. Because intracellular calcium signaling is a key early feat...

BACKGROUND Exposure to cadmium is associated with human pathologies and altered gene expression. The molecular mechanisms by which cadmium affects transcription remain unclear. It has been proposed that cadmium activates transcription by altering intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and disrupting calcium-mediated intracellular signaling processes. This hypothesis is based on sever...

BACKGROUND Calcium electroporation is a new experimental anti-cancer treatment where calcium is internalized into cells by application of short, high voltage pulses. Calcium electroporation has been shown to induce tumor necrosis associated with ATP depletion while the effect on normal fibroblasts was limited when investigated in a 3D in vitro spheroid model. We aimed to investigate the effect ...

An endothelial cell monolayer with a single mechanically lysed cell was used as a model to examine the extent, kinetics, and nature of local calcium mobilization in the neighborhood of a wound. Individual endothelial cells from confluent monolayers were mechanically lysed with a minutien needle coupled to a micromanipulator while producing no observable mechanical trauma to the neighboring cell...

Immune dysfunction has been reported in hypertensive rats, and circulating levels of ouabain are increased in some experimental models of hypertension. Ouabain is an inhibitor of the Na /K -ATPase capable of diverse effects on cells of the immune system, but its mode of action on these cells is still unknown. The levels of cytoplasmic calcium ions play an important role in cell signaling, and o...