Objective: To study the effects of Dangshen root extract on intracellular free calcium concentration [Ca2+] i of parietal cells.
Methods: The Dangshen-containing serum was obtained from rat blood after a continuously five days' feeding with Dangshen root extract of three doses and parietal cells were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats; [Ca2+] i in single cells was measured by confocal microscope loaded with Fluo3-AM as fluorensent indicator; The change of [Ca2+] i was represented by fluorensent intensity (FI).
Results: There were differences in the FI of [Ca2+] i increased by gastrin both between high and control group and between middle and control group (P < 0.05). But no difference was found between low and control groups (P > 0.05). And time to peak of FI, it was not found any difference between any two of the groups.
Conclusion: Dangshen-containing serum can inhibit the intracellular [Ca2+] i increase induced by gastrin in a dose-dependent manner and it may be one of the mechanisms of its reduction on acid secretion which has a close relation with the formation of ulcerous diseases.