Relation between ionic coupling and morphology of established cells in culture

Abstract

Ionic coupling was found in all investigated fibroblastoid cells of 7 permanent cell lines in culture, whereas in 7 epithelioid cell lines no coupling could be detected. These established lines consisted of cells of normal or malignant origin as well as cells that were able to, or failed to, produce tumors, but the only relation with ionic coupling appeared to be morphology. The ionic coupling between fibroblastoid cells was unaffected by the presence of fetal calf serum instead of calf serum; culturing in media conditioned by non-coupled cells; variation of the potential difference and phase of the cell cycle. Coupled cells could be depolarized by decreasing the bicarbonate concentration in the media; non-coupled cells were unaffected.