Selective stimulation of Ca2+ flux in cells by maitotoxin.

Maitotoxin elicits a dose-dependent stimulation of 45Ca2+ influx in glioma C6, pheochromocytoma PC12, insulinoma HIT and human blood cells, while having no effect in liposomes. In HIT cells maitotoxin also elicited influx of 86Rb+ greater than 22Na+ greater than 54Mn2+, but the stimulation was far less than for 45Ca2+. Stimulation of 45Ca2+ influx was blocked by Ni2+, Co2+, Cd2+ and Mn2+, and markedly reduced by Ba2+. Divalent cations, in particular Ca2+, Ba2+, Mn2+ and Cd2+, enhanced influx of the monovalent cations 22Na+ and 86Rb+.