Intracellular potential and pH of rabbit corneal endothelial cells.

Rabbit corneal endothelial pH and electrical potential have both been determined using tracer distribution techniques. Intercellular pH was measured using the dimethyloxazolidine-dione method and intracellular potential was measured using tetraphenylphosphonium bromide. Intracellular pH was determined as 7.10 in an ambient solution of pH 7.5. The only solution variations which altered intracellular pH were variations in the external solution pH, bathing in sodium-free or bicarbonate-free solution, incubation for 3 hours with 10(-6) or 10(-4) M ouabain or for 1 hour with 10(-4) M ouabain or in a high (60 mM) bicarbonate solution. The data indicate a close correlation between sodium and bicarbonate needs for the endothelium which corresponds with known effects of these ions on transendothelial ion fluxes. Intracellular potentials were measured of -34 mV, which were stable in the face of all environmental perturbations except 1 mM acetazolamide and 10(-6) M ouabain exposure for 3 hours. These newer techniques may be employed to provide some clues into the mechanism of endothelial transport systems.