Reversibility of effects of very hypotonic fluids on in vitro frog gastric mucosa: a functional and morphological study.

Functional and morphological properties of the in vitro frog gastric mucosa were studied during and after exposure to very hypotonic (approximately 25 mOs M) solutions. Within 20 min the acid secretory rate decreased to zero, but it returned to normal levels after isotonic fluids had been restored. The potential difference (PD) dropped within the first minutes after the exposure to hypotonic solutions, and became inverted. Following the return of isotonic conditions the PD increased to levels higher than in the controls. The electrical resistance increased about 10-fold during the hypotonic period, but decreased to near normal values when isotonic conditions were restored. By light and electron microscopy the cells of the hypotonic mucosae appeared greatly swollen, and the alterations were assessed by morphometric methods. The gland lumina were almost obliterated, and the lamina propria was reduced to about 63% of its former volume. After the return to isotonic conditions normal morphology was restores. It is conceivable that the great increase in resistance duroing the hypotonic period was caused by the occlusion of the gland lumina. Quantitative analyses of the Na, K, and Cl tissue concentrations indicated a large loss of these ions during the hypotonic state. Presumably the epithelial cells in the hypotonic mucosae avoid bursting by rapidly letting large numbers of ions exit, which results in a celulular osmolarity close to that of the bathing fluids.