文摘
This study was conducted to examine the effects of copper on membrane potential and cytosolic free calcium in isolated primary chicken hepatocytes which were exposed to different concentration of Cu2+ (0, 10, 50, 100?μM) or a mixture of Cu2+ and vitamin C (50 and 50?μM, respectively). Viability, membrane potential, and cytosolic free Ca2+ of monolayer cultured hepatocytes were investigated at the indicated time point. Results showed that, among the different concentrations of Cu2+ exposure, the viability of hepatocytes treated with 100?μM Cu2+ was the worst at the 12th and 24th hours. The effects of Cu2+ on viability and proliferation were time and dose dependent. Further investigation indicated that Cu2+ exposure significantly enhanced cytosolic free Ca2+ in hepatocytes, compared to that in control group, at the 24th hour. Meanwhile, membrane potential was noticeably reduced in hepatocytes increasing concentration of Cu2+. Taking these results together, we have shown that Cu2+ can cause toxicity to primary chicken hepatocytes in excessive dose and the effect of Cu2+ exposure on membrane potential is not site specific, which is probably mediated by the changes of cytosolic free Ca2+.