Cytoprotection and intracellular calcium

It seems that prostacyclin has an increasing effect on gastric mucosal (ant ral and fundic) calmodulin level in rats. Using either the calcium channel blocker verapamil or anti-calmodulin drugs (diazepam, trifluoperazine,) the cytoprotective effect of prostacyclin can be inhibited. Therefore, it is p robable that calcium ions and calcium activated calmodulin play a role in t he effect of prostacyclin. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Published by Edit ions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.