Effects of cytochalasin B and of deoxyglucose on phagocytosis-related changes in membrane potential in rat peritoneal macrophages.

Cytochalasin B (CB) and deoxyglucose alter the electrical responses of the plasma membrane of rat peritoneal macrophages to the presence of phagocytosable latex particles. With both agents, instead of the initial hyperpolarization we previously observed, there is a depolarization. In the case of cytochalasin B (CB) this is followed by a gradual repolarization to the initial resting level, whereas with deoxyglucose the membrane eventually does hyperpolarize. One possible interpretation is that plasma membrane receptors mediate the depolarization in response to phagocytosable particles, but that normally this is masked by other changes effected here by the agents we used.