title: Stem cell factor alters membrane potential of purified peritoneal mast cells in culture.
abstract: The membrane potential (E(m)) was used as an indicator to evaluate the effect of stem cell factor (SCF) on the membrane integrity of peritoneal mast cells (PMCs). PMCs were harvested from the peritoneal lavage of Sprague-Dawley rats, purified more than 95% and cultured with or without the presence of SCF (2 x 10(-8) M). E(m) values were measured with conventional intracellular recording techniques. Results from day 1 to day 4 in culture were compared. Significant differences in average E(m) (aE(m)) (P < 0.01, analysis of variance) were seen on days 3 and 4 (means +/- SE in millivolts): -67.4 +/- 8.0 and -59.4 +/- 4.8 with SCF vs. -24.8 +/- 7.9 and -7.6 +/- 3.9 without SCF, respectively. Moreover, after culture with SCF for >1 wk, the aE(m) values of purified PMCs had a tendency to reach plateau values similar to that of unpurified PMCs on day 1 (at -20 mV). The morphological appearances of PMCs can be correlated with the results of aE(m) measurements. PMCs with a smooth spherical shape and highly refractive appearance, and better tolerance to electrode impalement, showed E(m) with greater negative values and lesser fluctuations. These results indicate that SCF can maintain the membrane properties and viability of purified PMCs in a long-term culture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019089:Stem Cell Factor