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Published July 1984 | Published
Journal Article Open

Substituted benzyl acetates: a new class of compounds that reduce gap junctional conductance by cytoplasmic acidification

Abstract

Conductance of gap junctions in many preparations has been shown to be sensitive to cytoplasmic pH, decreasing as pH decreases below 7.5 in fish and amphibian embryos and below 7.1 in crayfish septate axon. We have found a new class of compounds, benzyl acetate derivatives, that reversibly decrease junctional conductance, gj, when applied in low concentration (approximately 1 mM). Simultaneous intracellular pH (pHi) measurements show that the ester effects are attributable to reduction in pHi. The sensitivity of gj to these compounds and the relative lack of side effects make these agents attractive for studies of the role played by gap junctions in normal tissue function. In addition, the finding of cytoplasmic acidification in response to cell exposure to esters suggests caution in interpretation of results obtained using esterified compounds for intracellular loading.

Additional Information

© 1984 by The Rockefeller University Press Received for publication 9 January 1984, and in revised form 7 March 1984. We are grateful to H.A. Lester for support, technical advice, and discussions of the manuscript, to J. Zavilowitz for superb technical assistance and to J.A. Connor for preliminary data showing ester-induced cytoplasmic acidification indicated by absorbance changes of intracellulary injected phenol red. This study was supported in part by NS-07512 and HD-04248 (to M.V.L. Bennett), NS-16524 and NS-19830 (to D.C. Spray), GM-29836 (to Dr. H.A. Lester), a fellowship from the Los Angeles Affiliate of the American Heart Association (to J.M. Nerbonne), a fellowship from the Fogarty Foundation (A. Campos de Carvalho) and a McKnight Development Award (D.C. Spray).

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