Measurement of the concentration of free cytoplasmic calcium in the process of platelet aggregation using a fluorescent method

A multiwavelength method for measuring free cytosolic calcium concentration is proposed. It is based on the registration of the fluorescent spectrum of calcium--sensitive probe indo-1 and deconvolution of the spectrum into components corresponding to free and bound forms of the probe. Calcium concentration is calculated as a product of calcium-probe dissociation constant by calcium-bound to free form concentration ratio. The obtained values are independent of variations in light-scattering properties of the medium and total dye concentration in the optical channel. It is shown that during ADP-induced platelet aggregation calcium concentration rises without measurable delay after the addition of the inducer and significantly decreases by the time the aggregation begins.