HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kouritas, V. K. Articles by Molyvdas, P. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kouritas, V. K. Articles by Molyvdas, P. A.

Low glucose level and low pH alter the electrochemical function of human parietal pleura

¹ Dept of Physiology, University of Thessaly Medical School, Depts of ² Cardiothoracic Surgery, and ³ Thoracic Diseases, Larissa University Hospital, Larissa, Greece.

CORRESPONDENCE: V. K. Kouritas, Dept of Physiology, University of Thessaly Medical School, 22 Papakiriazi St, 412 22, Larissa, Greece. Fax: 30 2410670100. E-mail: kouritas{at}otenet.gr

Keywords: Exudates, glucose, human, parietal pleura, pH, transmesothelial resistance

Received: April 5, 2006
Accepted April 10, 2007

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether low glucose and pH level, which are usually measured in complicated pleural effusions, alter the electrochemical function of healthy human parietal pleura.

Parietal pleural pieces were stripped from 66 patients during thoracic surgery and were mounted in Ussing chambers. Krebs’ solutions containing different glucose levels (0, 40 and 100 mg) and balanced at different pH levels (7.4, 7.3 and 7.2) were added to the pleural cavity surface of the pieces. Transmesothelial potential difference was measured at various time-points as an electrophysiological variable and transmesothelial resistance (R_TM) was calculated using Ohm's law.

When normal-glucose Krebs at pH 7.45 was used, R_TM remained unchanged over time, but when low-glucose Krebs was used, R_TM decreased. Krebs without glucose caused the greatest decrease in R_TM. Use of low-pH Krebs decreased R_TM. The lower the pH of the Krebs, the faster the decrease in R_TM and the greater the effect. The decrease in R_TM was greater with low-pH than with low-glucose Krebs. Low glucose and low pH caused an additive decrease in R_TM.

Low glucose concentration and low pH cause alteration of the electrochemical function of human parietal pleura and could act as agents that lead to further exudate progression.