Early rise of cytosolic Ca2+ induced by NGF in PC12 and chromaffin cells

Abstract
A rise of cytosolic Ca2+ is induced by NGF in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 and bovine chromaffin cells investigated (both in suspension and while attached to polyornithine-coated glass slides) by fluorescence techniques (with quin-2 and fura-2). The effect of NGF on [Ca2+]i is delayed (30–40 s of lag phase), slow (tf1/2 = 40 s), relatively small (+50-75%) and persistent (over 10 min). It is due to Ca2+ influx (requires extra-cellular Ca2+ > 10 μM) through a pathway different from the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel, possibly accompanied by intracellular Ca2+ redistribution, and might play a messenger role in NGF action