ATP enhances spontaneous calcium activity in cultured suburothelial myofibroblasts of the human bladder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Suburothelial myofibroblasts (sMF) are located underneath the urothelium in close proximity to afferent nerves. They express purinergic receptors and show calcium transients in response to ATP. Therefore they are supposed to be involved in afferent signaling of the bladder fullness. Since ATP concentration is likely to be very low during the initial filling phase, we hypothesized that sMF Ca(2+) activity is affected even at very low ATP concentrations. We investigated ATP induced modulation of spontaneous activity, intracellular calcium response and purinergic signaling in cultured sMF.

Methodology/principal findings

Myofibroblast cultures, established from cystectomies, were challenged by exogenous ATP in presence or absence of purinergic antagonist. Fura-2 calci

SUBMITTER: Cheng S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3187810 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature