AJP - Cell Physiology, Vol 255, Issue 3 C311-C314, Copyright © 1988 by American Physiological Society
Water permeability of isolated endothelial cells at different temperatures
R. A. Garrick, U. S. Ryan and F. P. Chinard
Division of Science and Mathematics, Fordham University, College of Lincoln Center, New York, New York 10023.
The endothelial cells provide a potential pathway for water movement across
the endothelium. The endothelial cell permeability to water can, therefore,
be a factor in regulation of the rate of water movement out of the
vasculature. Endothelial cells are isolated from calf pulmonary artery and
cultured. The cells are removed from culture, and the diffusional water
permeability is determined with the linear diffusion technique. The mean
membrane permeability coefficients (PDS) determined at 20, 30, 37, and 41
degrees C are 160, 273, 304, and 387 x 10(-5) cm/s, respectively. The
temperature dependence of PD is calculated with the Arrhenius equation to
be 7.2 kcal/mol. If these values of PD are compared with values we have
reported for the osmotic permeability coefficient (PF), the PF/PD is about
one at each temperature. The values of PD in the isolated endothelial cells
are compared with PD for endothelial cells estimated from whole organ
studies and are similar to recently reported values.
