Elsevier

Developmental Biology

Volume 94, Issue 2, December 1982, Pages 284-290
Developmental Biology

Full paper
Membrane potential changes associated with differentiation of enterocytes in the rat intestinal villi in culture

https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-1606(82)90348-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Fragmented villi of the small intestine isolated from newborn rats were maintained in culture for periods of up to 4 weeks. In culture, floating globular villi and adherent villi were distinguished. Intracellular recordings were made from both types of villi. The membrane potential was highest (about −70 mV) in the cells at the tip of the villus and was lowest (about −18 mV) in the cells near the crypt region, showing a continuous gradation according to the cell location. The membrane potential in cultured mature enterocytes was due to the contribution of the electrogenic Na+ pump as well as to the Ca2+-activated K+ conductance. Both the components were temperature and metabolic energy dependent. Based on these data, it is suggested that the Ca2+ transport mechanism and the electrogenic Na+ pump are involved in the process of cell differentiation or maturation of the intestinal epithelia.

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    Present address: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606, Japan.

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