EFFECTS OF TREMELLA POLYSACCHARIDE ON CYTOPLASMIC FREE CALCIUM CONCENTRATION IN MURINE SPLENOCYTES

Effects of Tremella polysaccharides (TP) isolated from Tremella fuciformis Berk. on the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration in murine splenocytes were observed using Fura-2, a fluorescence indicator, technique.TP increased the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration of Fura-2loaded murine splenocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and showed synergetic effect with Con A. No effect was found in the release of intracellular calcium without extracellular calcium. Verapamil (10 μg·ml^-1), a calcium channel blocker, was shown to inhibit the effect of TP on cytoplasmic free calcium, indicating that TP can affect the influx of extracellular calcium.