The structures and chemical compositions of valve calcific deposits were investigated. The deposits was chosen arbitrarily and subjected to chemical analysis, observation with scanning microscope, semi-quantitative determination of Ca, Mg, Na, K, P and C elements by energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy carried out. These deposits were found to ...

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) contract as intracellular free calcium ([Ca],) rises. While Na-Ca exchange has been proposed to contribute to transmembrane Ca flux, its role in cultured VSMC is unknown. Accordingly, we have investigated the role of Na-Ca exchange in unidirectional and net transmembrane Ca fluxes in cultured rat aortic VSMC under basal conditions and following agonist-mediat...

Salinity affects large areas of agricultural land, and all major crop species are intolerant to high levels of sodium ions. The principal route for Na(+) uptake into plant cells remains to be identified. Non-selective ion channels and high-affinity potassium transporters have emerged as potential pathways for Na(+) entry. A third candidate for Na(+) transport into plant cells is a low-affinity ...

Levels of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium were determined in plant organs (bud, flowers, fruit, seed, leaves, stems, roots, cobs, styles, shaft, grains and efflorescences) of three Fadama farms located in Ifaki-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The highest levels of Mg, K, Na and Ca were obtained in the bud of Hibiscus esculentus with respective values (ppm dry ...

Photosynthetic characteristics, leaf ionic content, and net fluxes of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-) were studied in barley (Hordeum vulgare L) plants grown hydroponically at various Na/Ca ratios. Five weeks of moderate (50 mM) or high (100 mM) NaCl stress caused a significant decline in chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, and stomatal conductance (g(s)) in plant leaves grown...

Myofibroblast differentiation is a key process in pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. Cardiac glycosides (ouabain, digoxin) inhibit Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, resulting in increased intracellular [Na(+)]-to-[K(+)] ratio in cells. Microarray analysis suggested that increased intracellular [Na(+)]/[K(+)] ratio may promote the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a critical enzyme in the synthesis of pr...

Calcium influx into cultured retinal amacrine cells is followed by a small, slow, inward current that we show here results from the operation of electrogenic Na-Ca exchange. The activity of the exchanger is shown to correlate with the magnitude of the Ca2+ load and to depend on both the Ca2+ and Na+ gradients. Li+ is unable to substitute for Na+ and in the absence of Na+, slow tail currents are...