Dynamic changes of [Ca2+] i in cerebellar granule cells
Dynamic changes of [Ca2+]i in cerebellar granule cells exposed to pulsed electric fields

Intracellular free Ca2+ concentration (Ca2+]i) in embryonic chick cerebellar granule cells loaded with fluo-3/AM and exposed to a single pulsed electric field was investigated using a confocal laser scanning microscope and fluorescent microscope equipped with CCD video imaging system. The results showed that Ca2+]i increased immediately and rose to the peak rapidly as the cells exposed to a single pulsed electric field. The amplitude and rate of the increases of Ca2+]i depend on the intensity of external electric field. In the presence of Ca2+ chelant EGTA or Ca2+ channels blocker La3+ in the pulsation solutions, the increase of Ca2+]i was still observable. It was also observed that Ca2+]i of different intracellular areas in the cell elevated simultaneously while the peak of the increase of Ca2+]i in the poles of the cell preceded to the peak in its somata and recovered to a plateau within a short time.