New Proof for Astrocytes Having L-type Calcium Channels

The laser scanning confocal mircroscope and fluorescence speotrophotometer were used to investigate the effects of the L-type calcium channel agonist 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl pyridine-3- carboxylic acid ((±)-Bay K8644) and antagonist nimodipine on intra-cellular calcium concentration (Ca2+i ) of caltured mouse astrocyetes. Bay K8644 can evidently increase the Ca2+i in caltured astrocytes with the doses of 0.0001mM、0.001mM and 0.01mM, whereas nimodipine can decrease the Ca2+i with the dose of 0.001mM、0.01mM and 0.1mM. Nimodipine also can decrease the elevation of Ca2+i which was elicited by KCl .Our results suggested that the effets of L-type calcium channel agonist and antagonist on astrocye are same as neurons, it indicated that astrocytes also have L-type calcium channel.