Inducing calcium fluxes in endothelial cells (1)

In this "magic wand" experiments, endothelial cells are loaded with the calcium probe Fluo-4. Cells are pressed with a glass microindenter, provoking a rupture of their plasma membrane. This induces a large calcium influx from the extracellular medium. This calcium flux then propagates to neighboring cells.
Credit: Julien Husson, LadHyX, Ecole Polytechnique.