Abstract
Calcium ions are of key importance in a large number of cellular functions. In the past decade a large variety of cells have been found to show localized increases in the intracellular calcium concentration named calcium sparks. In this brief review, the methodology of detecting calcium sparks by confocal microscopy is summarized. Some of the properties of calcium sparks in muscle (cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscles), neurons, nerve terminals and oocytes are described. Speculations are put forward regarding their possible role in microcontrol of cell function.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 331-366 |
| Number of pages | 36 |
| Journal | Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2000 |
Keywords
- calcium noise
- calcium puffs
- calcium signaling
- calcium sparks
- cardiac muscle
- confocal microscopy
- endoplasmic reticulum
- hippocampal cells in culture
- intracellular calcium dynamics
- mitochondria
- oocytes
- presynaptic bouton
- sarcoplasmic reticulum
- skeletal muscle
- smooth muscle
- transmitter release