Skip to main content

Measurement of Intracellular Calcium Concentration Using Confocal Microscopy

  • Protocol
Calcium Signaling Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 114))

Abstract

Many cellular functions are tightly regulated by intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i), and, therefore, the measurement of [Ca2+]i is of critical importance. To determine Ca2+-related cellular dynamics accurately, it is necessary to measure three-dimensionally resolved [Ca2+]i with sufficient temporal resolution to follow fast cellular responses that generate signal pulses and wave propagation. Several techniques have been developed to assay [Ca2+]i, but a revolution in the study of intracellular [Ca2+]i occurred when fluorescent dyes for Ca2+ were developed (1). Since then, fluorescent dyes and fluorescent microscopy have been used to observe resting and nonresting [Ca2+] in intact cells as well as in subcellular fractions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Tsien, R. Y. (1980) New calcium indicators and buffers with high selectivity against magnesium and protons: design, synthesis and properties of prototype structures. Biochem. 19, 2396–2404.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Minsky, M. L. (1988) Memoir on inventing the confocal scanning microscope. Scanning 10, 128–138.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Denk, W., Strickler, J., and Webb, W. W. (1990) Two-photon laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. Science 248, 73–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Denk, W., Delaney, K. R., Gelperin, A., Kleinfeld, D., Strowbridge, B. W., Tank D. W., and Yuste, R. (1994) Anatomical and functional imaging of neurons using 2-photon laser scanning microscopy. J. Neurosci. Methods 54, 152–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Piston, D. W., Masters, B. R., and Webb, W. W. (1995) Three-dimensionally resolved NAD(P)H cellular metabolic redox imaging of the in situ cornea with two-photon excitation laser scanning microscopy. J. Microsc. 178, 20–27.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Piston, D. W., Kirby, M. S., Cheng, J., Lederer, W. J., and Webb, W. W. (1994) Two-photon-excitation fluorescence imaging of three-dimensional calcium-ion activity. Appl. Opt. 33, 662–669.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Denk, W. (1994) Two-photon scanning photochemical microscopy: Mapping ligand-gated ion channel distributions. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91, 6629–6633.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Parker, I., Callamaras, N., and Wier, W. G. (1997) A high-resolution, confocal laser-scanning microscope and flash photolysis system for physiological studies. Cell Calcium 21, 441–452.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tsien, R. Y. (1989) Fluorescent indicators of ion concentrations, in Methods Cell Biology (Taylor, D. and Wang, Y. L., eds.), Academic, San Diego, pp. 127–156.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Parker, I. and Ivorra, I. (1993) Confocal microfluorimetry of Ca2+ signals evoked in Xenopus oocytes by photoreleased inositol trisphosphate. J. Physiol. 461, 133–165.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Perez-Terzic, C., Stehno-Bittel, L., and Clapham, D. E. (1997) Nucleoplasmic and cytoplasmic differences in the fluorescence properties of the calcium indicator Fluo-3. Cell Calcium 21, 275–282.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Tsien, R. Y. and Waggoner, A. (1990) Handbook of Biological Confocal Microscopy, 2nd ed. (Pawley, J., ed.), Plenum, New York, pp. 169–178.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Laurent, M., Johannin, G., Gilbert, N., Lucas L., Cassio, D., Petit, P., and Gleury, A. (1994) Power and limits of laser scanning confocal microscopy. Biol. Cell 80, 229–240.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Huang, X. Y., Morielli, A. D., and Peralta, E. G. (1993) Tyrosine kinase-dependent suppression of a potassium channel by the G protein-coupled m1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. Cell 75, 1145–1156.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Cran, D. G. (1987) The distribution of organelles in mammalian oocytes following centrifugation prior to injection of foreign DNA. Gamete Res. 18, 67–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Han J. K. and Nuccitelli R. (1990) Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced calcium release in the organelle layers of the stratified, intact egg of Xenopus laevis. J. Cell Biol. 110, 1103–1110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ruberti, I., Beccari, E., and Carnevalli, F. (1989) Large scale isolation of nuclei from oocytes of Xenopus laevis. Analytical Biochem. 180, 177–180.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Dreyer, C., Singer, H., and Hausen, P. (1981) Tissue specific antigens in the germinal vesicle of Xenopus laevis oocytes. Wilhelm Roux Arch. 190, 197–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gard, D. L., (1991) Organization, nucleation, and acetylation of microtubules in Xenopus laevis oocytes: A study by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. Dev. Biol. 143, 346–362.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Neher, E. (1988) The influence of intracellular calcium concentration on degranulation of dialyzed mast cells from rat peritoneum. J. Physiol. 395, 193–214.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hernandez-Cruz, A., Sala, F., and Adams, P. R. (1990) Subcellular calcium transients visualized by confocal microscopy in a voltage-clamped vertebrate neuron. Science 247, 858–862.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Himpens, B., De Smedt, H., Droogmans, G., and Casteels, R. (1992) Differences in regulation between nuclear and cytoplasmic calcium in cultured smooth muscle cells. Am. J. Physiol. 263, C95–C105.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Stehno-Bittel, L., Perez-Terzic, C., and Clapham, D. E. (1995) Diffusion across the nuclear envelope inhibited by depletion of the nuclear Ca2+ store. Science 270, 1835–1838.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Helm, P. J., Franksson, O., and Carlsson, K. (1995) A confocal scanning laser microscope for quantitative ratiometric 3D measurements of [Ca2+] and Ca2+ diffusions in living cells stained with Fura-2. Plugers Arch. 429, 672–681.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lee, M. A., Dunn, R., Clapham, D. E., and Stehno-Bittel, L. (1997) Regulation of the nuclear pore complex by nuclear Ca2+. Cell Calcium, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Stehno-Bittel, L., Luckhoff, A., and Clapham, D. E. (1995) Calcium release from the nucleus by InsP3 receptor channels. Neuron 14, 163–167.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lechleiter, J. D., Girard, S., Peralta, E., and Clapham, D. E. (1991) Spiral calcium wave propagation and annihilation in Xenopus oocytes. Science 252, 123–126.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lechleiter, J. D. and Clapham, D. E. (1992) Molecular mechanisms of intracellular calcium excitability in X. laevis oocytes. Cell 69, 283–294.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Cran, D. G (1987) The distribution of organelles in mammalian oocytes following centrifugation prior to injection of foreign DNA. Gamete Res. 18, 67–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Han, J. K. and Nuccitelli, R. (1990) Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced calcium release in the organelle layers of the stratified, intact egg of Xenopus laevis. J. Cell Biol. 110, 1103–1110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Jaconi, M. E. E., Pyle, J., Bortolon, R., Ou, J. and Clapham, D. E. (1997) Calcium release and influx colocalizes with endoplasmic reticulum. Curr. Biol. 7, 599–602.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Dumont, J. N. (1972) Oogenesis in Xenopus laevis. J. Morphol. 136, 153–180.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. McKay, I. C., Forman, D., and White, R. G. (1981) A comparison of fluorescein isothiocyanate and lissamine rhodamine as labels for antibody in the fluorescent-antibody technique. Immunol. 43, 591–602.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1999 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Perez-Terzic, C., Jaconi, M., Stehno-Bittel, L. (1999). Measurement of Intracellular Calcium Concentration Using Confocal Microscopy. In: Lambert, D.G. (eds) Calcium Signaling Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 114. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-250-3:75

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-250-3:75

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-597-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-250-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics