Exposure of various neural cells to ATP increased intracellular Ca2+ and the production of inositol trisphosphate. The Ca2+ responses were also observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that a part of Ca2+ mobilization took place from cytosolic storage. Since adenosine had no effect on intracellular Ca2+ increment, ATP appears to act through a P2-purinergic receptor. Islet-activating protein or pertussis toxin pretreatment hardly influenced the increase in intracellular Ca2+ and inositol trisphosphate production induced by ATP, suggesting that IAP-sensitive GTP-binding proteins do not play a practical role in this reaction.
