Increased cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) and nitric oxide (NO) are suggested to be associated with apoptosis that is a main feature of many liver diseases and is characterized by biochemical and morphological features. We sought to investigate the events of increase in [Ca2+]i and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium depletion by thapsigargin (TG), a selective inhibitor of sarco-ER-Ca2+ -ATPases, in relation to NO production and apoptotic and necrotic markers of cell death in primary rat hepatocyte culture. Cultured hepatocytes were treated with TG (1 and 5 micromol/L) for 0-24 or 24-48 h. NO production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression were determined as nitrite levels and by iNOS-specific antibody, respectively. Hepatocyte apoptosis was estimated by caspase-3 activity, cytosolic cytochrome c content and DNA fragmentation, and morphologically using Annexin-V/propidium iodide staining. Hepatocyte viability and mitochondrial activity were evaluated by ALT leakage and MTT test. Increasing basal [Ca2+]i by TG, NO production and apoptotic/necrotic parameters were altered in different ways, depending on TG concentration and incubation time. During 0-24 h, TG dose-dependently decreased iNOS-mediated spontaneous NO production and simultaneously enhanced hepatocyte apoptosis. In addition, TG 5 micromol/L produced secondary necrosis. During 24-48 h, TG dose-dependently enhanced basal NO production and rate of necrosis. TG 5 micromol/L further promoted mitochondrial damage as demonstrated by cytochrome c release. A selective iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine, suppressed TG-stimulated NO production and ALT leakage from hepatocytes after 24-48 h. Our data suggest that the extent of the [Ca2+]i increase and the modulation of NO production due to TG treatment contribute to hepatocyte apoptotic and/or necrotic events.

• MeSH
• apoptóza fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• buněčná smrt účinky léků   MeSH
• buněčné jádro účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• financování organizované MeSH
• guanidiny farmakologie   MeSH
• hepatocyty fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• kaspasa 3 metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• mitochondrie fyziologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• oxid dusnatý biosyntéza   MeSH
• sarkoplazmatická Ca2+-ATPáza antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• synthasa oxidu dusnatého, typ II antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• thapsigargin farmakologie   MeSH
• vápník fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH