Objective To investigate the changes in
i and their effects on macrophage apoptosis, the effects of signal molecules
on apoptosis and i change of apoptotic macrophage induced by dexamethasone. Methods Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), cytometry and fluorescence labeling. Results 1. The fluo-3 fluorescence in apoptotic macrophage increased gradually. Inhibitors for different receptors of intracellular calcium pool, especially inhibitors of calcium influx inhibited both the increase of fluo-3 fluorescence and apoptosis ratio simultaneously. 2. Staurosporine and DcAMP clearly alleviated macrophage apoptosis and inhibited the changes of fluo-3. Genistein and methyl blue decreased apoptosis ratio slightly and reduced the amplitude of fluo-3 change. Conclusions The results indicated that intracellular Ca 2+ release as well as the extracellular Ca 2+ influx resulted in the gradual elevation of i, which promoted macrophage apoptosis and that PKC accelerated elevation of i, then promoted macrophage apoptosis; cAMP restrained elevation of i, then in turn inhibited macrophage apoptosis obviously; cGMP, TPK slightly reduced amplitude of i change and low-down apoptosis ratio. These results implicated that Ca 2+ is one of the main targets at which signal molecules regulate macrophage apoptosis.