Effect of ion composition on the changes in membrane potential induced with several stimuli in rat mast cells

We studied, in different ionic conditions, the effect of various agents on the membrane potential of rat peritoneal mast cells using the fluorescent probe bisoxonol. Ouabain and ionophore A23187 lead to a fast depolarization of the plasma membrane of mast cells, while compound 48/80 and thapsigargin induced membrane hyperpolarization, which was more pronounced in the case of compound 48/80. When using compound 48/80, the amount of gramicidin necessary to depolarize the cells was twice the amount required in resting cells, which indicates that compound 48/80 increases considerably the activity of the Na+/K+ pump. On the other hand, the ionophore A23187 elicited a clear depolarization which was oblated in the absence of intracellular calcium. The increase in the osmolarity of the medium causes a depolarization in the plasma membrane of mast cells. Hypertonicity-stimulated depolarization is inhibited by removing sodium and potassium.