Monitoring of Intracellular Ca²⁺ Elevation in a Single Neural Cell Using a Fluorescence Microscope/Video-Camera System

Abstract

For monitoring the changes in intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i), we developed a simple system combining a fluorescence microscope, an image intensifier, a video-camera, a cathode ray tube display and a photodiode, employing quin2 as a Ca²⁺ indicator. We recorded increases of the fluorescence intensity due to [Ca²⁺]_i rises, when high K⁺ medium, neurotransmitter and Ca²⁺ ionophore were applied to the single cells of nervous system origin in culture. The present system is capable of simultaneous detection of the [Ca²⁺]_i changes from multiple separate cells.