Spatially nonuniform changes in intracellular calcium ion concentrations.

The spatial variation of changes in intracellular calcium ions were studied with a one-dimensional scanning microphotometer. Changes in intracellular calcium were measured with a metallochromic dye, arsenazo III. Both the magnitude and the kinetics of changes in calcium were dramatically different in different regions of a cell. In Limulus ventral photoreceptors the maximum change was probably restricted to the rhabdomeric lobe.