Intracellular potentials in cells of the seminiferous tubules of rats.

1. Membrane potentials have been recorded from cells of seminiferous tubules of rats in vitro using micro-electrodes. The value in 808 impalements was -28-2 +/- 0-3 mV (mean +/- S.E.) at 33 degrees C. 2. Increasing the potassium concentration depolarized the cells, a tenfold increase in concentration causing a depolarization of 16 mV. Removal of sodium from the bathing solution caused a hyperpolarization of 3 mV at a potassium concentration of 5-9 m-equiv/l. Removal of chloride and replacement with impermeant anions had no effect on potential. Removal of calcium from the bathing solution caused a minor but significant depolarization. 3. Ouabain (10-3 M), dinitrophenol (2-5 times 10-4 M) or removal of glucose from the bathing fluid all caused depolarization. The membrane potentials of the cells were sensitive to temperature over the range 10-33 degrees C, the apparent activation energy for the reactions maintaining the potential being approximately 6 kcal/mole. 4. Membrane potentials in seminiferous tubules were independent of age of the animal, were insensitive to previous hypophysectomy and were insensitive to a number of hormones (FSH, LH, HCG, oxytocin). In high concentration prostaglandin E1 caused depolarization. 5. Acetazoleamide (4 times 10-5 M) caused a rapid, but reversible, depolarization of the tubular cells. This was also true in conditions when the HCO'3/CO2 buffer system was replaced with Tris-buffer. Another carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (p-sulphonamido-benzoic acid) had similar effects on cell potentials as acetazoleamide. These results are discussed in relation to the nature of the ionic secretion produced in the tubules. 6. Occasional cells showed phasic variations in membrane potential. A possible connexion between these variations and the contractile activity of the tubules is discussed.