Isolation of intestinal epithelial cells and evaluation of transport functions

• Published in: Methods in enzymology Vol. 192; p. 324
• Main Author: Kimmich, G A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1990
• Subjects: Animals; Biological Transport; Carbon Radioisotopes; Cell Separation - methods; Chickens; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium - physiology; Indicators and Reagents; Intestinal Mucosa - cytology; Intestinal Mucosa - physiology; Kinetics; Membrane Potentials; Methylglucosides - metabolism; Onium Compounds - metabolism; Organophosphorus Compounds - metabolism; Radioisotope Dilution Technique
• ISSN: 0076-6879
• DOI: 10.1016/0076-6879(90)92080-W

Epithelial cells can be isolated from the small intestine of chickens by a procedure involving hyaluronidase treatment of the intact tissue. The isolated cells retain a high degree of functional activity as assessed by the formation of 70-fold gradients of alpha-MG. Stability of the sugar gradients reflects maintenance of stable electrochemical Na+ gradients across the plasma membrane. The cells can be used to evaluate the properties of Na(+)-dependent sugar transport, Na(+)-independent sugar transport, ion transport, metabolism, membrane potentials, and the integration of these events, all of which are important to achieving a stable sugar gradient.