Microelectrode measurements from oxyntic cells in intact Necturus gastric mucosa

The electrical properties of oxyntic cells were measured in intact isolated Necturus fundic mucosa by dissecting away the serosal muscle and connective tissue and impaling the oxyntic cells across their basolateral membranes. Their properties under resting [i.e., not secreting acid (10(-4) M serosal cimetidine)] and stimulated (10(-4) M histamine) conditions were compared with those of surface cells impaled across their apical membranes in a separate set of experiments. Histamine hyperpolarized the transepithelial potential by 6-10 mV and reduced the transepithelial resistance by approximately 40%. The basolateral membrane potential (Vcs) of both cell types was significantly hyperpolarized by histamine, that of oxyntic cells from a resting value of -50 to -59 mV (P less than 0.001) and that of surface cells from -50 to -54 mV (P less than 0.05). Histamine also hyperpolarized the apical membrane potential (Vmc) of the oxyntic cells; however, the Vmc of surface cells was significantly depolarized. The ratio of the apical to basolateral cell membrane resistances Ra/Rb (delta Vmc/delta Vcs resulting from transepithelial current pulses) of resting oxyntic cells was 1.1 and that of surface cells was 3.6. Stimulation did not affect the Ra/Rb of either cell type. A tenfold increase in serosal K+ concentration depolarized Vcs and increased Ra/Rb of resting and stimulated oxyntic cells, indicating a significant basolateral K+ conductance. The results are consistent with a purely passive role for surface cells and indicate that stimulation results in a simultaneous decrease of both the apical and basolateral membrane resistances of the oxyntic cells.