Quantal release of calcium in permeabilized A7r5 cells is not caused by intrinsic inactivation of the inositol trisphosphate receptor.

Since the role of intrinsic inactivation of the receptor for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) in the phenomenon of quantal release of Ca2+ is still a point of debate, we investigated whether inactivation of the InsP3 receptor can be responsible for quantal release in permeabilized A7r5 cells. A crucial experiment was that a second challenge of the cells with a low dose of InsP3, after washing out the first challenge, was unable to produce a renewed phasic response under conditions where the Ca2+ pumps were blocked. A new phasic response was however obtained with either addition of a higher dose of InsP3 or after allowing the refilling of the Ca2+ stores. We conclude therefore that quantal Ca2+ release in A7r5 cells is not due to InsP3 receptor inactivation.