ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Intracellular pH of frog sartorius muscle | JoVE Visualize

Home
Research Domains
Physical Sciences

Intracellular pH of frog sartorius muscle

S F Hannan, P M Wiggins

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta|March 25, 1976

Related Experiment Videos

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Morpholine, a weak base, is suitable for measuring intracellular pH in frog muscle. However, different pH measurement methods yielded conflicting results, suggesting unique intracellular water properties.

Area of Science:

Physiology
Biophysics

Background:

Intracellular pH (pH(i)) is a critical physiological parameter.
Accurate measurement of pH(i) is essential for understanding cellular function.
Weak bases like morpholine can serve as pH indicators.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate morpholine as an indicator for intracellular pH measurement.
To compare pH(i) values obtained using morpholine with other methods.

Main Methods:

Radiolabeled morpholine (³H-morpholine) distribution in frog sartorius muscle.
Determination of morpholine's pK'a in a solution mimicking frog Ringer.
Comparison of pH(i) measurements using morpholine, nicotine, 5,5'-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione, and pH-sensitive microelectrodes.

Main Results:

Morpholine's pK'a (8.45 ± 0.02 at 20°C) is within the optimal range for pH sensitivity.
Morpholine demonstrated no binding, metabolism, or toxicity in the studied concentrations.
Significant discrepancies were observed between pH(i) values obtained from different measurement techniques.

Conclusions:

Morpholine is a suitable indicator for intracellular pH determination.
Discrepant pH(i) values suggest potential differences in water structure and solvent properties between intracellular and extracellular compartments.
Intracellular pH may be higher than previously estimated, and its precise determination is complex.

Related Experiment Videos

Related Concept Videos

Atomic, Molecular And Optical Physics

Atomic And Molecular Physics

Intracellular Ph Of Frog Sartorius Muscle