AJP - Cell Physiology, Vol 267, Issue 1 C75-C83, Copyright © 1994 by American Physiological Society
Osmotic and other properties of isolated human cheek epithelial cells
E. J. Lee, G. S. Patten, S. L. Burnard and E. J. McMurchie
Division of Human Nutrition, Glenthorne Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia.
This study describes some biological properties of human cheek (buccal
epithelial) cells, isolated by mouth wash. Yields ranged from 6.5 to 20.6 x
10(6) cells, with a mean (+/- SE) of 12.2 +/- 4.2 x 10(6) cells, which gave
0.55 +/- 0.01 x 10(6) cells/mg protein. Vital stain exclusion was similar
in cells isolated in either water (89 +/- 2%) or 250 mM sucrose (87 +/-
3%). From our measurements of cell volume and electrolyte content, we
estimated intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations to be between 0.3-0.5 and
7.4-13.0 mM, respectively. In 22 adult subjects, basal, prickle,
intermediate, and superficial cells represented 0.3 +/- 1.4, 51 +/- 2.4, 26
+/- 0.9, and 22.7 +/- 1.8%, respectively, of the total sample. Cheek cells
exhibited a low endogenous rate of oxygen consumption, which was stimulated
by glucose or succinate and inhibited by KCN or NaF. Cheek cells were
osmotically stable in a wide range of media, including water. However, they
exhibited shrinkage and collapse in hypertonic media, particularly
polyethylene glycol.
