Fig. 5. Measurement of cytosolic [Ca²⁺] in striatal neurons loaded with Fluo-4 NW.

Baseline fluorescence (F₀) was established with 15-s frames taken before adding the receptor ligands: 100 nM Ang II (A) or 100 nM Ang II plus 100 nM ACEA (C). Frames were captured at the maximum allowed speed (600 ms) by a Zeiss LSM 880 confocal microscope. Each ∆F/F₀ versus time dashed curve in (A) and (C) corresponds to a single neuron; the solid black ∆F/F₀ versus time curves in (A) and (C) result from averaging the readings of all neurons labeled within the ROI. Background fluorescence (F_B) was estimated by measuring fluorescence in “empty” spaces. Time series fluorescence images in (B) and (D) correspond to those qualitatively displayed in, respectively, (A) and (C). Data from a representative experiment are shown.