By use of double-barreled pH-sensitive microelectrodes, intracellular pH was measured in isolated sheep cardiac Purkinje strands. After equimolar substitution of 20 mmol/l Cl- by several organic anions at constant extracellular pH 6.8, the rate of induced intracellular acidification was measured. For many organic acids tested, a relation was found between the rate of intracellular acidification and the product of their dissociation constant (pK'a) and diisopropylether-to-water partition ratio (p'). L-Lactate and pyruvate, and also cyanoacetate and alpha-ketobutyrate, caused faster acidifications than anticipated from their pK'a and p'. The rate of intracellular acidification, induced by L-lactate and pyruvate, was markedly depressed in the presence of 4 mmol/l alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate, a known inhibitor of the carrier-mediated pyruvate transport. The drug also had an effect on the acidification produced by cyanoacetate, alpha-ketobutyrate, glycolate, alpha-hydroxybutyrate, and alpha-chloropropionate, but not on that produced by propionate and acetate. L-Lactate caused a faster acidification than D-lactate. Our results suggest the existence of a facilitated diffusion for L-lactate, pyruvate, and some other organic acids in sheep Purkinje cells.

Both surface pH (pHs) and intracellular pH (pHi) were measured using single- and double-barreled pH-sensitive microelectrodes in isolated sheep cardiac Purkinje strands, rabbit and cat papillary muscle, and mouse and rat soleus muscle. Superfusion of the preparations with a relatively low buffered solution (containing 5 mM HEPES buffered to control pH) causes surface acidosis that correlates with efflux of metabolically produced acids in the unstirred layer of fluid surrounding the tissue. Acidification of the surface layer induces a slower acid change of pHi and depresses the rate of proton extrusion following an imposed intracellular acid load. In cardiac preparations, the lowering of pHi correlates with depression of twitch tension. Transient changes of pHs and pHi are seen when a weak acid or base is suddenly added to, or removed from the superfusion solution. Indirect evidence of the presence of carbonic anhydrase in the extracellular surface layer is obtained from analysis of transient pHs changes in presence and absence of acetazolamide.

The influence of the surface pH (pHs) on the intracellular pH (pHi) and the recovery of pHi after an imposed intracellular acid load was investigated in isolated sheep cardiac Purkinje fiber, rabbit papillary muscle, and mouse and rat soleus muscle. pHs and pHi, respectively, were continuously measured by use of single- and double-barreled pH-sensitive glass microelectrodes. Surface acidosis, usually obtained by superfusion with solutions of acid pH, was also produced with low buffered (5 mM N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethane-sulfonic acid) solutions at control pH. The pHs decrease (delta pHs) induced by low buffering was smallest (-0.08 pH unit) in Purkinje fiber and largest (-0.31 pH unit) in rat soleus muscle, which already had a more acid surface in control conditions. delta pHs was somewhat dependent on the superfusion rate. Higher superfusion rates decreased but did not abolish delta pHs. Surface acidosis was associated with a small intracellular acidification. Intracellular acid loads were produced by adding and subsequently withdrawing 20 meq/l NH4+ from the superfusate. In all preparations, the rate of recovery of pHi after NH4+ withdrawal was notably decreased at acidified pHs. This effect was amiloride sensitive. It is concluded that, in superfused multi-cellular preparations, pHs and therefore the buffer concentration of a superfusate can considerably influence steady-state pHi and pHi recovery from an imposed intracellular acid load.

The purpose of the present work was to characterize calcium responses of brain-capillary endothelial cells (BCEC), the cells forming the blood-brain barrier, to chemical, hyperosmolar and mechanical stimulation. Confluent BCEC cultures were grown from capillary fragments isolated from rat cerebral cortex. Intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was measured using fura-2 and digital imaging. Our experiments show large endothelial calcium responses to substance P and ATP, up to a peak value of approximately 1000 and 600 nM, respectively, and these responses were observed in 2/3 of the cells. Calcium responses to bradykinin, histamine, and hyperosmolar sucrose or mannitol were smaller, attaining a peak in the range 180-340 nM, and were observed in a smaller fraction of the cells. No calcium responses were observed to high-potassium, L-glutamate, serotonin, carbachol, noradrenaline, and nitric-oxide donors. Consecutive superfusion of the cultures with ATP, bradykinin, and histamine showed that cells with a certain response pattern were spatially grouped; the response pattern itself varied widely between experiments. Mechanical stimulation of a single cell caused a calcium response in the stimulated cell in primary cultures and triggered an intercellularly propagating calcium wave in passaged cultures. Given the important effect of endothelial [Ca2+]i on blood-brain barrier permeability and transport, we conclude that substance P and ATP are potential modulators of blood-brain barrier function. Hyperosmolarity-induced blood-brain barrier opening is probably not mediated through endothelial [Ca2+]i.

The possible role of a Cl- -HCO3(-) exchange mechanism in the recovery from intracellular acidosis of isolated cardiac Purkinje strands was investigated. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured using double-barreled pH-sensitive microelectrodes. Acidifications were produced by withdrawing 20 meq NH+4 from the superfusate. Experiments were performed in normal CO2-HCO3(-)-buffered, in HCO3(-)free, and in Cl-free solutions and also in the presence of 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS), a blocker of Cl--HCO3(-) exchange. In the absence of external HCO3(-), the apparent rate of acid extrusion following induced acidification was only slightly decreased, but the observed effect does not necessarily imply the intervention of a Cl--HCO3(-) exchange mechanism. SITS had little effect on the response to acidification. In zero-Cl- solutions, recovery of pHi from acidosis was not impaired. These observations suggest that in Purkinje fibers, [Cl-]i-[HCO3(-)]o exchange plays no significant role in recovery from intracellular acidification. Moreover, additional evidence is presented in favor of a passive HCO3(-) efflux at steady-state pHi in the normal superfusate. The apparent membrane permeability to HCO-3 was estimated to be 3.2 X 10(-8) cm X s-1.

The construction of a double-barrelled pH sensitive microelectrode for intracellular use is described. Repetitive measurements of intracellular pH were obtained in rat soleus muscle and sheep Purkinje fibres. They yielded pH values ranging between 7.1 and 7.2 in a CO2/HCO3- buffered medium at 37 degrees C. A lower pH value than that of the bulk solution was found at the surface of the cells using either double-barrelled or single-barrelled pH sensitive microelectrodes.

Isolated guinea pig papillary muscles were subjected to an in vitro model of ischemia, consisting of superfusion arrest and immersion in paraffin oil, which results in restriction of substrate supply and metabolite washout. Intracellular pH (pHi) and surface pH (pHs) were measured with glass microelectrodes. Contractile force declined to 82% of the pre-"ischemic" value after 2 min and to 37% of the control value after 10 min. In addition, a shortening of the time to peak and duration of contraction was noted. The rate of force development decreased later than the rate of relaxation. After 10 min, pHi was acidified on average 0.08 pH unit, which is about one-third of the measured pHs change. Tripling the ischemic pHi change by reduction of the intracellular buffering power only slightly increased the rate of tension decline. Experimental pHi changes of similar magnitude, induced during normal superfusion, had a smaller effect on contractile force and failed to reproduce the characteristic changes in time course of the contraction. It is concluded that, in our condition of simulated ischemia, the intracellular acidification cannot account fully for the rapid decline in contractility.

SUMMARY1. Extracellular pH (pH.) and intracellular pH (pHi) of superficial fibres of the rat soleus muscle were measured in vitro using pH-sensitive glass micro-electrodes. The origin of the pH gradient existing between the bulk--phaseofextracellular solution and the surface of muscle fibres was investigated.2. The pHo decreased almost linearly over a distance of 285 ,um from bulk solution to fibre surface. The magnitude of the bulk-surface pH gradient is greater in the mid region of the muscle than close to the tendon.3. Decreasing the superfusate velocity increased the magnitude of the pH gradient. Reducing the buffer capacity of the superfusing solution had the same effect.4. Inhibiting the aerobic metabolism or stimulating it acidified the fibre surface. Inhibiting glycolysis alone, or both aerobic metabolism and glycolysis, alkalinized the fibre surface.5. Inhibiting the membrane ionic exchange process involved in pHi regulation had no effect on surface pH.6. Changing the rate of aerobic or anaerobic metabolism quickly modified pHi in most cases.7. In conclusion the bulk-surface pH gradient seems to result mainly from diffusion of CO2 and lactic acid across an unstirred layer of fluid covering the surface of muscle fibres.