Abstract. The plasma membrane of Paramecium is underlain by a continuous layer of membrane vesicles known as cortical alveoli, whose function was unknown but whose organization had suggested some resemblance with muscle sareoplasmic reticulum. The occurrence of antimonate precipitates within the alveoli first indicated to us that they may indeed correspond to a vast calcium storage site. To analyze the possible involvement of this compartment in calcium sequestration more directly, we have developed a new fractionation method, involving a Percoll gradient, that allows rapid purification of the surface layer (cortex) of Paramecium in good yield and purity and in which the alveoli retain their in vivo topological orientation.This fraction pumped calcium very actively in a closed membrane compartment, with strict dependence on ATP and Mg 2÷. The pumping activity was affected by anti-calmodulin drugs but no Triton-soluble calmodulin binding protein could be identified, using gel overlay procedures. The high affinity of the pump for calcium (Km = 0.5 t~M) suggests that it plays an important role in the normal physiological environment of the cytosol. This may be related to at least three calcium-regulated processes that take place in the immediate vicinity of alveoli: trichocyst exocytosis, ciliary beating and cytoskeletal elements dynamics during division.

Young adult rats absorbed 50 p.p.m. Cd2+ added to drinking water. After 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 9 months of treatment, the ultrastructural condition of liver, kidney and muscle was observed by electron microscopy. The choice of these tissues was determined by their differences in the capacity to accumulate Cd2+: the liver is able to concentrate a considerable amount of metal, but redistributes it throughout the entire organism, while the kidney collects it in view of its elimination. Muscle contains the least Cd2+. A general regression in mitochondria cristae accompanied by a vesiculation and a fragmentation of endoplasmic reticulum appeared simultaneously in the three tissues, at as early as 6 weeks of treatment, and extended progressively with its continuation supporting evidence of a general attack of the intracellular membrane systems. Cd2+ stimulation of membrane-degrading enzymes such as phospholipases and proteases was suggested. A concomitant diminution in glycogen stores was noted. Active synthesis of neutral lipids, especially cholesterol esters, took place in liver mitochondria of treated rats in collaboration with rough endoplasmic reticulum, and progressively generated a multiplication of electron-transparent inclusions in cytoplasm. Isolated mitochondria from liver, kidney and muscle of Cd2+-treated rats maintained partial energy coupling, but displayed a rapid early fall in cytochrome oxidase followed by a partial restoration after 6 months of treatment, and a progressively slackening of succinate dehydrogenase. Isolated vesicles of liver mitochondria inner membrane of treated rats behaved as intact mitochondria, indicating changes inside the membrane itself. Addition in vitro of the metal ion to mitochondria and also to inner membrane vesicles isolated from control rats revealed that Cd2+ was able to stop completely succinate dehydrogenase, but was totally ineffective on cytochrome oxidase. Membrane fixation of Cd2+ on the flavoprotein or SH associated with succinate dehydrogenase is proposed. Considering the close parallelism of the extensive depression of microsomal NADPH cytochrome c reductase and the rapid fall in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase, it is suggested that an indirect inhibition process occurs, through Cd2+-induced diminution of a constituent common to all cytochromes in the cell.

The D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] receptor was localized by immunofluorescence experiments in situ in liver cryosections. Two anti-Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor antibodies (against the 14 C-terminal residues of the type 1 receptor or against the entire cerebellar receptor) weakly decorated the whole cytoplasm, and a more intense labelling was observed at the periphery of the hepatocytes, particularly beneath the canalicular and the sinusoidal domains of the plasma membrane (PM). Antibodies against calreticulin, the Ca2+ pump (SERCA2b) or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes homogeneously labelled the cytoplasm and the subplasmalemmal area. These data indicate that the ER can be divided into at least two specialized subregions: one is located throughout most of the cytoplasm and contains markers of the rough ER (RER), calreticulin, SERCA2b and a low density of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor, and the other is confined to the periphery of the cells and contains calreticulin, Ca2+ pump, RER markers and a high density of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor. A membrane fraction enriched in Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor and in markers of the PM was immuno-adsorbed with the antibody against the C-terminal end of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor and pelleted with Sepharose protein A. The immuno-isolated material was enriched in Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor, but none of the markers of the ER or of the PM could be detected. This suggests that the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor is localized on discrete domains of the ER membrane beneath the canalicular and the sinusoidal membranes, where it was found at higher densities than the other markers.

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SUMMARYTo visualize cell surface V1a vasopressin receptors in rat hepatocytes in the absence of receptor-mediated endocytosis, we used a high-affinity fluorescent linear antagonist, Rhm 8 -PVA. Epifluorescence microscopy (3CCD camera) and fluorescence spectroscopy were used. Rhm 8 -PVA alone did not stimulate Ca 2 ϩ signals and competitively blocked Ca 2 ϩ signals (Kinact of 3.0 nM) evoked by arginine vasopressin (vasopressin). When rat hepatocytes were incubated with 10 nM of Rhm 8 -PVA for 30 min at 4C, the fluorescent antagonist bound to the surface of cells, presumably the plasma membrane. The V1a receptor specificity of Rhm 8 -PVA binding was confirmed by its displacement by the nonfluorescent antagonist V4253 and by the natural hormone vasopressin at 4C. Prior vasopressin-mediated endocytosis of V1a receptors at 37C abolished binding of the labeled antagonist, whereas in non-preincubated cells, Rhm 8 -PVA labeled the cell surface of rat hepatocytes. When cells labeled with Rhm 8 -PVA at 4C were warmed to 37C to initiate receptor-mediated internalization of the fluorescent complex, Rhm 8 -PVA remained at the cell surface. Incubation temperature at 4C or 37C had little effect on binding of Rhm 8 -PVA. We conclude that Rhm 8 -PVA is unable to evoke receptor-mediated endocytosis and can readily be used to visualize cell surface receptors in living cells.

SUMMARYIn freshly isolated rat hepatocyte multiplets, Ca 2 ϩ signals in response to vasopressin are highly organized. In this study we used specific probes to visualize, by fluorescence and confocal microscopy, the main signaling molecules involved in vasopressin-mediated Ca 2 ϩ responses. V1a receptors were detected with a novel fluorescent antagonist, Rhm 8 -PVA. The G ␣q/G ␣11, PLC ␤ 3 , PIP 2 , and InsP 3 receptors were detected with specific antibodies. V1a vasopressin receptors and PIP 2 were associated with the basolateral membrane and were not detected in the bile canalicular domain. G ␣q/G ␣11, PLC ␤ 3 , and InsP 3 receptors were associated with the basolateral membrane and also with other intracellular structures. We used double labeling, Western blotting, and drugs (cytochalasin D, colchicine) known to disorganize the cytoskeleton to demonstrate the partial co-localization of G ␣q/ G ␣11 with F-actin. (J Histochem Cytochem 47:601-616, 1999)

The effects of vitamin D on the intramuscular distribution of total and bound calcium, phosphate and on available cytosolic calcium, were investigated in skeletal muscle. Total calcium and phosphorus were measured on ashed subcellular fractions of muscles from vitamin D-repleted and vitamin D-deprived rats. The variations in available calcium were followed by determining the activities of calcium-sensitive enzymes in isolated cytosol. Bound-calcium was revealed ultra-microscopically by pyroantimonate. In vitamin D-repleted muscles, the pyroantimonate method revealed specific areas of intense bound-calcium deposition: the myofibrils, where they formed pronounced lines parallel to the Z-bands. In vitamin D-deficient muscles, the calcium-pyroantimonate deposits appeared clearly reduced. This loss was accompanied by a marked reduction in total calcium and phosphorus in all the subcellular fractions, as compared to vitamin D-repleted muscles. Unexpectedly, the activity of the Ca(+)-activated isocitrate-dehydrogenase was increased in the cytosol, while that of the Ca2(+)-inhibited pyruvate-kinase decreased. Prolonged vitamin D-administration to vitamin D-repleted rats led to an intensification of calcium-pyroantimonate deposits and a general increase in total calcium and phosphorus, but no change in the cytosolic Ca2(+)-sensitive enzyme activities. Cessation of vitamin D-administration to vitamin D-repleted rats produced a regression of calcium-pyroantimonate deposits, a general decrease of total calcium and phosphate levels, and stimulation of the Ca2(+)-activated isocitrate-dehydrogenase accompanied by lowering of the Ca2(+)-inhibited pyruvate-kinase. The results clearly indicate a correlation between vitamin D-repletion and the total and bound calcium content of skeletal muscle. In addition, they demonstrate an apparent contradiction between the decrease of total and bound calcium, and the activities of cytosolic Ca2+ sensitive enzymes during vitamin D-deprivation, which can only be explained by an increase in available calcium. It is suggested that vitamin D stimulates intramuscular mechanisms tending to lower available calcium by inactivating the cation via the formation of calcium chelates.

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