Effects of low-frequency electric fields on the intracellular Ca~(2+) response induced in human vascular endothelial cells by vasoactive substances

摘要

Human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to air electric fields of 30 kV/m, 50 Hz for 24 hr. After exposure, the change in intracellular Ca~(2+) concentration ([Ca~(2+)]_i) induced by the vasoactive substances ATP and histamine were determined using confocal laser scanning microscopy. A statistically significant increase in [Ca~(2+)]_i was observed following stimulation with 100 μM ATP, compared with the results in sham-exposed cells (22%, p < 0.05, n = 20). no changes in [Ca~(2+)]_i due to the field were observed after stimulation with histamine, showing that the effect of the field on the change in [Ca~(2+)]_i was agonist-specific. The Ca~(2+) concentration in the medium was low, suggesting that the ATP-induced increase in [Ca~(2+)]_i in cells exposed to electric fields was due to the release of Ca~(2+) from intracellular stores. The results suggested that the applied low-frequency electric field affected the function of HUVEC via a change in [Ca~(2+)]_i.