Embryos of oviparous squamate reptiles typically obtain calcium from both yolk and eggshell but differ from other oviparous amniotes (turtles, birds and crocodilians) because they are heavily dependent on calcium-rich yolk. Eggs of viviparous squamates lack calcareous eggshells, and embryos receive calcium solely from yolk or from both yolk and placenta. The pattern of calcium mobilization by a...

The popular screening method for urotensin (UT) receptor antagonists is to measure the intracellular calcium concentration with a calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye. This assay format has an inherent limitation on the problem related to the fluorescence interference as it involves fluorescent dyes. In the present study, a label-free assay for the screening of UT receptor antagonists was develope...

BACKGROUND Regulation of preglomerular vasomotor tone vessels ultimately control glomerular filtration rate, sodium reabsorption and systemic blood pressure. To gain insight into the complex renal hemodynamic factors that may result in hypertension, we studied calcium signaling pathways. METHODS Fresh, single, preglomerular vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were isolated from 5- to 6-week-o...

lization. This independence of calcium and PGE 2 has been reported previously and suggests that there are multiple mechanisms by which bone cells sense their mechanical environment. These findings are currently in press in the Primary cilia mediate mechanosensing in bone cells by a calcium-independent mechanism. by oscillatory fluid flow via intracellular calcium mobilization and activation of ...