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Relationship between membrane potential and external potassium in human glioblastoma cells in tissue culture
Author(s) -
Manuelidis Laura,
Manuelidis Elias E.,
Prichard J.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1040870206
Subject(s) - nernst equation , ouabain , membrane potential , potassium , membrane , biophysics , chemistry , sodium , spheroid , tissue culture , biochemistry , biology , in vitro , organic chemistry , electrode
Cells from a human glioblastoma (TC 526) maintained in tissue culture for ten years had a mean membrane potential of 27 ± 0.9 mV at an external potassium concentration [K 0 ] of 5.3 mM. When [K 0 ] was varied between 2.5 and 5.3 mM, membrane potential changes were close to those predicted by the Nernst equation. At higher [K 0 ], the Nernstian slope was approached only in the presence of 10 −5 M ouabain, which did not affect membrane potential at a [K 0 ] of 5.3 mM. An electrogenic sodium pump activated by high [K 0 ] could explain these findings; such a mechanism has been demonstrated in other tissues.