Objective: Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals, including octacalcium phosphate (OCP), carbonated-apatite (CA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals are associated with destructive forms of osteoarthritis. Mechanisms of BCP-induced cartilage breakdown remain incompletely understood. We assessed the ability of BCP to induce changes in intracellular calcium (iCa(2+)) content and oscillations and the role of iCa(2+) in BCP-induced cartilage degradation. Methods: Bovine articular chondrocytes (BACs) and bovine cartilage explants (BCEs) were stimulated with BCP or monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. iCa(2+) levels were determined by spectrofluorimetry and oscillations by confocal microscopy. mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin-like motifs 4 (ADAMTS-4) and ADAMTS-5 was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) release was measured in the supernatants of BCE cultures. Results: All three BCP crystals significantly increased iCa(2+) content. OCP also induced iCa(2+) oscillations. Rate of BACs displaying iCa(2+) oscillations increased over time, with a peak after 20 min of stimulation. OCP-induced iCa(2+) oscillations involved both extracellular Ca2+ (eCa(2+)) influx and iCa(2+) stores. Indeed, OCP-induced iCa(2+) oscillations decreased rapidly in Ca2+-free medium. Both voltage- and non-voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels were involved in eCa(2+) influx. BCP crystal-induced variation in iCa(2+) content was associated with BCP crystal-induced cartilage matrix degradation. However, iCa(2+) was not associated with OCP crystal-induced mRNA expression of MMP-3, ADAMTS-4 or ADAMTS-5. Conclusion: BCP crystals can induce variation in iCa(2+) content and oscillations in articular chondrocytes. Furthermore. BCP crystal-induced changes in iCa(2+) content plays pivotal role in BCP catabolic effects on articular cartilage. (C) 2012 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.