Figure 2.

Acute SDF-1α exposure leads to CXCR4 and NMDA/AMPA receptor-dependent [Ca²⁺]_i elevation in hippocampal neurons. Representative traces of agonist-induced [Ca²⁺]_i elevation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, as quantified in ratiometric Ca²⁺ imaging with the fura-2 AM Ca²⁺-sensitive dye. Traces from six neurons (somata and dendrites up to ∼100 μm length) are presented in the form of F₃₄₀/F₃₈₀ fluorescence ratios, showing SDF-1α-induced (100 nm) elevation in [Ca²⁺]_i that is blocked by coapplication of the CXCR4 inhibitor WZ811 (WZ; 100 nm) and by the NMDA/AMPA receptor blockers MK-801 and DNQX (MK/DN; 10 μm each). Glutamate-induced (10 μm) elevation in [Ca²⁺]_i is shown as a positive control.