Electrophysiological properties of osteoblastlike cells from the cortical endosteal surface of rabbit long bones.

The mean transmembrane potential of cultured osteoblastlike cells isolated from the cortical endosteal surface of rabbit long bones was -16.9 +/- 0.64 mV (n = 335). Elevation of potassium concentration in medium caused a decrease in potential. As the external concentration of potassium reached 15 mmol/liter and above, there was a linear relationship between the potassium concentration in log scale and the membrane potential with a slope of -13 mV per 10-fold change in external potassium concentration. Dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, parathyroid extract, hydrocortisone, and sodium fluoride all depolarized the membrane of osteoblast-like cells after both short (1-2 h) and long (24 h) exposures at suitable doses, whereas calcitonin and prostaglandin E2 hyperpolarized the membrane after long exposures. The Na+, K+ and Cl- concentrations of cultured osteoblastlike cells were 0.538, 0.984, and 0.358 mmol/g protein or 52.6, 96.3, and 35.0 mmol/liter cell water, respectively. The protein content of these cells was 8.18 +/- 0.6 g/100 g cells and the water content was 83.7 g/100 g cells. The above-mentioned chemical and hormonal preparations in doses that produced significant changes in the membrane potential of these cultured cells did not alter their electrolyte or protein contents 24 h after exposure. Intracellular pH of cultured osteoblastlike cells as determined by [14C]-dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione and 3H2O averaged 7.03 +/- 0.11 when the pH of culture medium was maintained at 7.4. Calculations based on the values for the membrane potential and the electrolyte concentrations observed in this study indicate that Na+, and H+, and Cl- are actively transported out of the cells and K+ into the cells.