Passive Ca(2+) overload in H9c2 cardiac myoblasts: assessment of cellular damage and cytosolic Ca(2+) transients

Increase of resting Ca(2+) levels and amplitude of vasopressin-induced Ca(2+) transients were observed when cells in serum-free medium were exposed to 5mM Ca(2+) for 2h. Small effect on cell viability was also observed. A rapid cytotoxic effect was developed in the presence of 10mM Ca(2+) and absence of serum. However, cells exposed to 10mM Ca(2+) in the presence of serum were protected from damage for at least 2days. Resting Ca(2+) levels and cytosolic Ca(2+) transients in serum-containing medium with 10mM Ca(2+) displayed lower increases and a tendency to recover control values. When serum was absent, cells preincubated with 10mM Ca(2+) were more sensitive to thapsigargin-induced damage than cells preincubated with lower Ca(2+). The sensitivity was similar when serum was present. Tolerance to high Ca(2+) in the presence of serum was linked to potentiation of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) entry to decrease the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) overload.