Membrane potentials of the rabbit lacrimal gland: Effects of temperature and metabolic inhibitors

Abstract

1. 1. Resting membrane potentials of the rabbit lacrimal gland were measured in vivo and in vitro at 25°C by using glass microelectrodes. 2. 2. Raising the bath temperature to 38°C caused a slight hyperpolarization from -26.2 ± 0.3 (N = 125) mV to -28.8 ± 0.3 (N = 135) mV, which was not different from the in vivo measurements, i.e. -28.9 ± 0.3 (N = 288) mV. 3. 3. The in vitro resting potentials were decreased to -21.6 ± 0.3 (N = 127) mV and -19.6 ± 0.3 (N = 134) mV after additions of 2,4-dinitrophenol and ouabain, respectively. 4. 4. The maintenance of resting potentials is discussed in terms of temperature and metabolic factors. © 1981.