Generation and modulation of cytosolic Ca2+ signals in pancreatic acinar cells: techniques and mechanisms

Calcium is a ubiquitous signalling molecule, known to control a vast array of cellular processes. In order to retain stimulus fidelity, the cell encodes the increases in intracellular calcium in the form of oscillations that are regulated both temporally and spatially. Here, we review recent work, using the pancreatic acinar cell as a model system, on the mechanisms employed to generate and modulate cytosolic Ca²⁺ signals, and the technical advances that have made these studies possible.