Real-time Observation of Intracellular Calcium Changes in GSNO-induced Mouse Thymocyte Early Apoptosis

Using fast fluorescence micro-imaging technique, we have studied the real-time changes of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) in S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO)-induced mouse thymocyte early apoptosis. It was observed that [Ca²⁺]_i increases rapidly until reaches a platform. The variety range and velocity are related to the GSNO concentration and the way how to treat with the thymocytes. These results show a great difference from the dexamethasone (DEX)-induced thymocytes early apoptosis, caused by the different apoptosis mechanisms. This article supplies a new method for investigating the mechanism in GSNO-induced mouse thymocyte apoptosis.