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Ethanol Decreases Cytosolic‐Free Calcium Ions in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells As Assessed by Digital Image Analysis
Author(s) -
Zhang A.,
Cheng T.P.O.,
Altura B.M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1992.tb00635.x
Subject(s) - cytosol , vascular smooth muscle , ethanol , intracellular , calcium , chemistry , biophysics , fura 2 , vasodilation , contraction (grammar) , fluorescence microscope , medicine , endocrinology , fluorescence , smooth muscle , biochemistry , biology , physics , enzyme , quantum mechanics
Effects of ethanol on intracellular‐free Ca 2+ concentration in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells were examined by digital imaging fluorescence microscopy using the Ca 2+ fluorescence indicator, fura‐2. Ethanol induced dose‐dependent decrements in cytosolic‐free Ca 2+ concentration at 45 mM and 90 mM, which was consistent with previously reported observations of relaxation in intact rat aortic tissues. However, ethanol at high pharmacological concentrations (e.g., 450 mm) failed to induce any further inhibition in cytosolic‐free Ca 2+ concentration. Our results suggest that the vasodilator effects of ethanol, observed on intact blood vessels, may result in part from an interference with the availability of Ca 2+ for excitation‐contraction coupling in vascular smooth muscle cells.