Mechanisms of Glutamate Induced Swelling in Astroglial Cells

Relative changes in volume were registered in single cells by using a microspectrofluorometric equipment and the fluorescent probe fura-2/AM, excited at its isosbestic point. At this wavelength the probe is ion-insensitive and the fluorescent signals emitted is dependent on variations in the concentration of the dye. Variations in cell volume thus lead to changes in fluorescence intensity as the probe concentration is changed in the lightened delimited zone selected for each cell. When changing the excitation wavelength Ca2+ transients can be recorded.