Skip to main content

Electrical properties of cultured epithelioid cells (MDCK)

The Journal of Membrane Biology volume 73, pages 177–184 (1983)Cite this article

Summary

This is a study of the intracellular electrical potential, membrane resistance, and capacity of MDCK cells (epithelioid of renal origin) cultured in monolayers on a collagen couch. These monolayers have a transepithelial resistance of 256±12 (22) ohm cm2 (mean±standard error, and number of observations), and the cells have 61.6±6.3 (92) MΩ across their plasma membrane. The electrical capacity of the cells is 45.1±2.9 (63) pF and is much higher than expected for a cell of its size (diameter 14 μm, height 5 μm) and cannot be attributed to intercellular coupling, as no evidence of this type of connection was found in 20 pairs of neighboring cells. On the contrary, the high capacity is in keeping with previous studies using electron microscopy showing microvilli and a high degree of lateral infolding. The relationship between resistance and capacity was 1981±177 (61) Ω·μF. The cells have an intracellular potential of −40.5±15 (120) mV. Yet the shape of the distribution curve suggests that the actual value may be somewhat higher (some −50 mV). The current/voltage curve shows a marked asymmetry, and in some cells the voltage becomes time-dependent for large, depolarizing current pulses.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Atkinson, M.M., Menko, A.S., Johnson, R.G., Sheppard, J.R., Sheridan, J.D. 1981. Rapid and reversible reduction in junctional permeability in cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of avian sarcoma virus.J. Cell Biol. 91:573–578

    Google Scholar 

  • Augustus, J., Bijman, J., Os, C.H. van, Slegers, J.F.G. 1977. High conductance in an epithelial membrane not due to extracellular shunting.Nature (London) 268:657–658

    Google Scholar 

  • Cereijido, M., Stefani, E., Chávez de Ramirez, B. 1982. Occluding junction in theNecturus gallbladder.J. Membrane Biol. 70:15–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Cereijido, M., Robbins, E.S., Dolan, W.J., Rotunno, C.A., Sabatini, D.D. 1978. Polarized monolayers formed by epithelial cells on a permeable and translucent support.J. Cell Biol. 77:853–880

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cereijido, M., Ehrenfeld, J., Meza, I., Martínez-Palomo, A. 1980. Structural and functional membrane polarity in cultured monolayers of MDCK cells.J. Membrane Biol. 52:147–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Cereijido, M., Meza, I., Martínez-Palomo, A. 1981. Occluding junctions in cultured epithelial monolayers.Am. J. Physiol. 240:C96-C102

    Google Scholar 

  • Cereijido, M., Rotunno, C.A. 1970. Introduction to the Study of Biological Membranes. Gordon and Breach, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Cereijido, M., Rotunno, C.A., Robbins, E.S., Sabatini, D.D. 1978. Polarized epithelial membranes producedin vitro.In: Membrane Transport Processes. J.F. Hoffman, editor. Vol. 1, pp. 433–461. Raven Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cereijido, M., Stefani, E., Martínez-Palomo, A. 1980. Occluding junctions in a cultured transporting epithelium: Structural and functional heterogeneity.J. Membrane Biol. 53:19–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Flagg-Newton, J.L., Loewenstein, W.R. 1979. Experimental depression of junctional membrane permeability in mammalian cell culture. A study with tracer molecules in the 300 to 800 dalton range.J. Membrane Biol. 50:65–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Furshpan, E.J., Potter, D.D. 1959. Transmission at the giant motor synapses of crayfish.J. Physiol. (London) 145:289–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzlinger, D.A., Easton, T.G., Ojakian, G.K. 1982. The MDCK epithelial cell line expresses a cell surface antigen of the kidney distal tubule.J. Cell Biol. 93:269–277

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khuri, R.N., Agulian, S.K., Kalloghlian, A. 1972. Intracellular potassium in cells of the distal tubule.Pfluegers Arch. 335:297–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuffler, S.W., Vaughan-Williams, E.M. 1953. Small-nerve junctional potentials. The distribution of small motor nerves to frog skeletal muscle, and the membrane characteristics of the fibres they inervate.J. Physiol. (London) 121:289–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Ledbetter, M.L.S., Lubin, M. 1979. Transfer of potassium. A new measure of cell-cell coupling.J. Cell Biol. 80:150–165

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leighton, J., Brada, Z., Estes, L., Justh, G. 11969. Secretory activity and oncogenicity of a cell line (MDCK) derived from canine kidney.Science 163:472–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Lever, J.E. 1979. Inducers of mammalian cell differentiation stimulate dome formation in a differentiated kidney epithelial cell line (MDCK).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76:1323–1327

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lever, J.E. 1981. Regulation of dome formation in kidney epithelial cell cultures.Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 372:371–381

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loewenstein, W. 1981. Junctional intercellular communication: The cell-to-cell membrane channel.Physiol. Rev. 61:829–912

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loewenstein, W.R., Kanno, Y. 1964. Studies on an epithelial (gland) cell junction. I. Modifications of surface membrane permeability.J. Cell Biol. 22:565–586

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Madin, S.H., Darby, N.B. 1958. As catalogued in: American Type Culture Collection Catalog of Strains.2:574–576

  • Malnic, G., Giebisch, G. 1972. Some electrical properties of distal tubular epithelium in the rat.Am. J. Physiol. 223:797–808

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Palomo, A., Meza, I., Beaty, G., Cereijido, M. 1980. Experimental modulation of occluding junctions in a cultured transport epithelium.J. Cell Biol. 87:736–745

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meza, I., Ibarra, G., Sabanero, M., Martínez-Palomo, A., Cereijido, M. 1980. Occluding junctions and cytoskeletal components in a cultured transporting epithelium.J. Cell Biol. 87:746–754

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Misfeldt, D.S., Hamamoto, S.T., Pitelka, D.K. 1976. Transepithelial transport in cell culture.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 73:1212–1216

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Okada, Y., Sato, T., Inouye, A. 1975. Effects of potassium ions and sodium ions on membrane potential of epithelial cells in rat duodenum.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 413:104–115

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rabito, C.A., Tchao, R. 1980. [3H] ouabain binding during the monolayer organization and cell cycle in MDCK cells.Am. J. Physiol. 238:C43-C48

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rabito, C.A., Tchao, R., Valentich, J., Leighton, J. 1978. Distribution and characteristics of the occluding junctions in a monolayer of a cell line (MDCK) derived from canine kidney.J. Membrane Biol. 43:351–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, R.C., Schultz, S.G. 1971. Electrical potential profile across rabbit ileum.J. Gen. Physiol. 57:639–663

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, N.L. 1981. Ion transport in tight epithelial monolayers of MDCK cells.J. Membrane Biol. 59:105–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentich, J.D. 1981. Morphological similarities between the dog kidney cell line MDCK and the mammalian cortical collecting tubule.Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 372:384–405

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weidmann, S. 1952. The electrical constants of Purkinje fibres.J. Physiol. (London) 118:348–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiederholt, M., Agulian, S.K., Khuri, R.N. 1974. Intracellular potassium in the distal tubule of the adrenalectomized and aldosterone treated rat.Pfluegers Arch. 347:117–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Windhager, E.E., Giebisch, G. 1965. Electrophysiology of the Nephron.Physiol. Rev. 45:214–244

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wondergem, R. 1981. Transmembrane potential of rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture.Am. J. Physiol. 241:C209-C214

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, F.S. 1971. Increasing magnitude of electrical potential along the renal distal tubule.Am. J. Physiol. 220:624–638

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Código 07000, Apartado Postal 14-740, México 14, D.F.

    E. Stefani & M. Cereijido

Authors
  1. E. Stefani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Cereijido
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stefani, E., Cereijido, M. Electrical properties of cultured epithelioid cells (MDCK). J. Membrain Biol. 73, 177–184 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01870440

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01870440

Key Words

  • epithelia
  • tissue culture
  • MDCK monolayers
  • membrane potential
  • membrane resistance
  • membrane capacity
  • cell coupling
  • amiroride