title: Rabbit corneal endothelial cell membrane potential.
abstract: Membrane potential of rabbit corneal endothelial cells measured using microelectrodes was -29.3 +/- 0.8 mV, n = 45, (mean +/- SEM). Histological location of Lucifer Yellow dye iontophoresed out of the microelectrode confirmed that the microelectrode was located intracellularly. The Lucifer Yellow diffused five to six cell diameters away from the impaled cell indicating endothelial cell coupling. Depolarization by ouabain (10(-4) M) and high extracellular potassium (potassium for sodium substitution) showed the cells to be responsive to changes in the bathing solution whilst impaled, that the cell membrane is more permeable to potassium than sodium and that membrane bound Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity generates the transmembrane electrolyte gradients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Wales College of Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wigham
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium