Centrioles, primary cilia and calcium in the growth of Balb/c 3T3 cells.

In every mammalian cell the interphase centriole forms a primary cilium during some part of the cell cycle. Many sensory receptors are modifications of primary cilia, but a sensory role for primary cilia in mammalian cells has not been proven. Nevertheless, we have found that both growth factors and calcium ionophore (A23187) induce calcium fluxes and shortening of the primary cilium. This evidence raises the question of whether the primary cilium is involved in calcium fluxes that are necessary for growth stimulation in mammalian cells.