Effect of PCO2 on intracellular pH in in vitro frog gastric mucosa

Steady-state intracellular pH (pHi) in 0, 5, and 10% CO2-buffered Ringer solution in sheets of in vitro frog gastric antral or fundic mucosa has been measured using the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). In tissues perfused with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-100% O2 buffer [extracellular pH (pHo) = 7.14], steady-state pHi in antral surface cells was 7.08 +/- 0.06 (n = 8), in fundic oxynticopeptic cells 6.91 +/- 0.03 (n = 13), in the muscularis mucosa 7.58 +/- 0.06 (n = 4). In mucosae perfused with 17.8 mM HCO3- -95% O2-5% CO2 buffer (pHo = 7.14), steady-state pHi in antral surface cells was 6.97 +/- 0.02 (n = 22), in fundic oxynticopeptic cells 7.00 +/- 0.04 (n = 18), and in fundic muscularis mucosa 7.39 +/- 0.05 (n = 8). In fundic oxynticopeptic cells perfused with 35.6 mM HCO3- -90% O2-10% CO2 (pHo = 7.14) steady-state pHi was 6.77 +/- 0.07 (n = 4). In tissues equilibrated initially with 100% O2 and changed to 5% CO2, antral surface cells acidified by 0.21 pH units and fundic oxynticopeptic cells by 0.10 pH units, with restoration of pHi to resting levels within 30 and 10 min, respectively. Exposure of tissues initially equilibrated with 5% CO2 to 100% O2 alkalinized antral surface cells by 0.22 pH units and fundic oxynticopeptic cells by 0.23 pH units, with only partial recovery of pHi by 30 min. These data suggest that steady-state pHi is equivalent in surface and oxynticopeptic cells and is lower than in the muscularis mucosa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)