Non-passive chloride distribution in mammalian heart muscle: micro-electrode measurement of the intracellular chloride activity. 1979

R D Vaughan-Jones

1. Liquid ion-exchanger Cl- -sensitive micro-electrodes were used to make continuous measurements of the intracellular Cl activity, aCli, of quiscent sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres in vitro. 2. aCli was higher than that expected from a passive distribution, (which would have been about 5 mM). It was 3--4 times hiable; EC1 was about 35 mV positive to Em. It was over twice as high in the nominal absence of bicarbonate/CO2 (when the buffer-system was HEPES/O2) but was not always so stable, and ECl was about 20 mV positive to Em. 3. Experiments designed to assess the maximum possible error likely to occur in the measurement of aCli showed that this could not be large and that the estimates of ECl were accurate to within 8 mV. 4. The ability of Cl to move down both concentration and potential gradients was established by demonstrating a loss of aCli in Cl-free solutions and a gain when Em was depolarized positive to ECl in high-K solutions. In both cases, the changes were complete within about 100--160 min. 5. The decline of aCli in Cl-free solutions (glucuronate-substituted) was not significantly affected by changes of [Ca]o from 0 to 12 mM or by the depolarizations of Em of up to 60 mV that sometimes occurred in low or zero [Ca]o. 6. Only 2--3 mM-aClo was sufficient to impede substantially the ready loss of aCli in HEPES-buffered solutions. 7. In high-K solutions (45 mM), Cl appeared to be passively distributed since, at equilibrium, Em and ECl differed by less than 2 mV. 8. In HEPES-buffered Tyrode, ECl of quiescent papillary muscle of the guinea-pig was, on average, 39 mV positive to Em. 9. It is concluded that liquid ion-exchanger Cl- -sensitive micro-electrodes are suitable for studying the Cl regulation of sheep Prukinje fibres, and probably of other cardiac tissues. The measurements of resting aCli are quite accurate when using either HEPES or bicarbonate-buffered Tyrode. The results are discussed in relation to estimates of the apparent membrane Cl permeability under various conditions and the possible existence of an inwardly directed 'Cl pump'.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007424 Intracellular Fluid The fluid inside CELLS. Fluid, Intracellular,Fluids, Intracellular,Intracellular Fluids
D007700 Kinetics The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008297 Male Males
D008564 Membrane Potentials The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization). Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D008839 Microelectrodes Electrodes with an extremely small tip, used in a voltage clamp or other apparatus to stimulate or record bioelectric potentials of single cells intracellularly or extracellularly. (Dorland, 28th ed) Electrodes, Miniaturized,Electrode, Miniaturized,Microelectrode,Miniaturized Electrode,Miniaturized Electrodes
D010210 Papillary Muscles Conical muscular projections from the walls of the cardiac ventricles, attached to the cusps of the atrioventricular valves by the chordae tendineae. Muscle, Papillary,Muscles, Papillary,Papillary Muscle
D011188 Potassium An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D011690 Purkinje Fibers Modified cardiac muscle fibers composing the terminal portion of the heart conduction system. Purkinje Fiber,Fiber, Purkinje,Fibers, Purkinje
D002463 Cell Membrane Permeability A quality of cell membranes which permits the passage of solvents and solutes into and out of cells. Permeability, Cell Membrane
D002712 Chlorides Inorganic compounds derived from hydrochloric acid that contain the Cl- ion. Chloride,Chloride Ion Level,Ion Level, Chloride,Level, Chloride Ion

Related Publications

R D Vaughan-Jones
September 1981, The American journal of physiology,
R D Vaughan-Jones
October 1966, The Journal of physiology,
R D Vaughan-Jones
October 1975, The Journal of physiology,
R D Vaughan-Jones
April 1983, Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology,
R D Vaughan-Jones
November 1975, The Journal of physiology,
R D Vaughan-Jones
November 1976, The Journal of physiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!