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Cytosolic calcium ion activity in epithelial cells of Necturus kidney

Nature volume 287, pages 859–861 (1980)Cite this article

Abstract

Calcium ions are believed to play an important role in the control of cellular function1, and have recently been implicated in the regulation of sodium and water transport in epithelia2–8. In epithelial cells, as in excitable cells1, low cytosolic free calcium levels may be maintained, in part, by a process of Na–Ca exchange across the plasma membrane5,8–12. In a recent model of transepithelial sodium transport in which a regulatory role for calcium ions was incorporated, it was assumed that cytosolic calcium ion activity of epithelial cells is similar to that of excitable cells13. However, no direct measurements of cytosolic calcium ion activity in epithelial cells in normal transporting conditions have yet been made. We report here the direct measurement with Ca2+-selective microelectrodes of cytosolic calcium ion activity in proximal tubular cells of Necturus kidney. The results indicate that cytosolic calcium ion activity in these cells is ∼10−7 M, and are consistent with the view that a Na–Ca exchange system, located at the basolateral cell membrane, plays a role in maintenance of low cytosolic calcium ion activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York, 10021

    Chin O. Lee, Ann Taylor & Erich E. Windhager

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  1. Chin O. Lee
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  2. Ann Taylor
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  3. Erich E. Windhager
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Lee, C., Taylor, A. & Windhager, E. Cytosolic calcium ion activity in epithelial cells of Necturus kidney. Nature 287, 859–861 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/287859a0

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