In many cell types rises in cytosolic calcium, either due to influx from the extracellular space, or by release from an intracellular store activates calcium dependent potassium currents on the plasmalemma. In neurons, these currents are largely activated following calcium influx via voltage gated calcium channels active during the action potentials. Three types of these currents are known: I(c...

Treatment of erythrocytes with the divalent cation ionophore A23187 results in net uptake of calcium and a calcium-dependent decrease in cellular potassium content and cell volume. These changes in membrane properties are associated with a selective stimulation of fatty acid incorporation into membrane phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). In this study the relationship between this selective stimulat...

The adsorption of gold onto activated charcoal is most dependent on the concentration and character of the 'spectator' cations present in the adsorption medium. In the presence of calcium ions, gold is adsorbed as the calcium aurocyanide complex. The degree to which the aurocyanide complexes are adsorbed follows the series Ca> Mt:> H> Li> Na> K, calcium aurocyanide being the most stable complex...

Calcium is a ubiquitous cation, which serves as a second messenger for numerous signals and confers specific cellular responses in eukaryotes. Recent studies have established a concept termed ‘Ca signature’ that specifies Ca changes triggered by each signal. However, it is very fascinating how this pervasive cation can translate an infinite number of stimuli into unique stimulus-dependent respo...

Experiments were performed on the lobster giant axon to determine the relation between intracellular spike amplitude and external calcium ion concentration. Action potential decline in low external calcium is greatly accelerated by simultaneous removal of external sodium ion. Correlation of the time course of spike decline in low calcium-low sodium solution with the time courses of spike declin...

1. After the concentration of potassium in the haemolymph of Helix pomatia has been raised by the infusion of KCl, it falls approximately exponentially for a time and then tends to rise. The accompanying rise and fall of calcium concentration can be fitted to a simple mathematical model. 2. The mobilization of calcium is accompanied by the generation of bicarbonate in equivalent amounts, withou...

Although the distribution of sodium, potassium, and chloride in mammalian tissue is now well established, this cannot be said for calcium and magnesium. From analyses of whole tissues for these elements it may be inferred that the magnesium content of the cells, like that of potassium, is relatively high, while calcium must be present in cells in considerably lower concentration than is magnesi...

Perisynaptic glial cells respond to neural activity by increasing cytosolic calcium, but the significance of this pathway is unclear. Terminal/perisynaptic Schwann cells (TPSCs) are a perisynaptic glial cell at the neuromuscular junction that respond to nerve-derived substances such as acetylcholine and purines. Here, we provide genetic evidence that activity-induced calcium accumulation in neo...