Abstract
Quantitative electron probe X-ray imaging techniques have been utilized to determine simultaneously the element content within a single cultured embryonic chick heart cell and its intracellular compartments as well as the average elemental content of several heart cells within a population. These features of microchemical imaging have permitted establishment of data regarding: (1) the heterogeneity of calcium accumulation in mitochondrial, cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments under conditions which elevate total cell calcium without producing irreversible cell injury; and (2) the variability of calcium accumulation from cell to cell within the population sampled. The results indicate that during NaK pump inhibition (K-free HT-BSS, 10 −4M ouabain, 60 min) elevation of mitochondrial calcium, measured in situ by electron probe X-ray microanalysis, to levels more than 100 times greater than in the basal state, may not cause irreversible mitochondrial uncoupling and cell death.
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