STIMULATION OF CALCIUM-UPTAKE IN CULTURED ASTROCYTES BY HYPOOSMOTIC STRESS - EFFECT OF CYCLIC-AMP

To investigate the role of Ca2+ in astrocyte volume regulation, we determined Ca2+ fluxes following hypoosmotic stress and how these fluxes were modified by cyclic AMP. In isoosmotic conditions treatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dBcAMP) caused almost a twofold increase in Ca-45(2+) uptake. Efflux studies of Ca-45(2+) in dBcAMP-treated cells showed three Ca2+ compartments while only two Ca2+ compartments were identified in non-dBcAMP-treated cells. Following hypoosmotic stress a twofold stimulation of Ca-45(2+) uptake occurred in both non-dBcAMP-treated and dBcAMP-treated astrocytes. Stimulation of Ca2+ uptake begins at similar to 270 mOsm and is half-maximally stimulated at similar to 100 mOsm. This uptake is partly mediated through L-type 'slow' inactivating Ca2+ channels. Hypoosmotic stress also induces the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The influx of extracellular C2+ and efflux of intracellular Ca2+ appear to be important factors in volume regulation after hypoosmotic stress. Cyclic AMP plays an important role in modulating hypoosmotically stimulated Ca2+ uptake.