An impurity in phenol red opens an ion channel in cultured human cells.

Abstract

Human fibroblast, bladder carcinoma, and breast carcinoma cells in commercial serum-free media or balanced salt solutions rapidly lose K+ and gain Na+. This rapid K+ loss is caused by one or more impurities in phenol red. Adding serum or albumin to media or to balanced salts prevents K+ loss. Quinine also prevents part of this loss in fibroblasts and breast carcinoma cells, suggesting that the impurity acts on an ion channel.

• Authors: M Lubin
• Journal: In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Animal (In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim) Vol. 29A Issue 7 Pg. 597-600 (Jul 1993) ISSN: 1071-2690 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 7689079 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Culture Media, Conditioned
• Culture Media, Serum-Free
• Ion Channels
• Potassium Channels
• Sodium Channels
• Quinine
• Phenolsulfonphthalein

Topics

• Animals
• Breast Neoplasms (pathology, physiopathology, ultrastructure)
• Cells, Cultured
• Culture Media, Conditioned (pharmacology)
• Culture Media, Serum-Free (pharmacology)
• Fibroblasts (cytology, physiology, ultrastructure)
• Humans
• Ion Channel Gating (physiology)
• Ion Channels (drug effects, physiology, ultrastructure)
• Male
• Mice
• Phenolsulfonphthalein (pharmacology)
• Potassium Channels (drug effects, physiology)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (pathology, physiopathology, ultrastructure)
• Quinine (pharmacology)
• Sodium Channels (drug effects, physiology)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms (pathology, physiopathology, ultrastructure)