Membrane potentials of in situ lacrimal gland in the cat

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Abstract
Membrane potentials, flow from the excretory duct, and distance between successive membrane penetrations were measured in cat lacrimal glands. Stimulation of the lacrimal nerve produced an increase in flow which was accompanied by a change in membrane potential (secretory potential) which consisted of an initial depolarization to a mean maximum of -22.0 mv followed by hyperpolarization to a mean maximum of -33.5 mv. The resting membrane potential of those structures, which responded to lacrimal nerve stimulation was -28.9[plus or minus] 2 mv (SD). In the unstimulated glands, 47% of the impaled structures had membrane potentials within the range of the maxima of the 2 phases of the secretory potential. Thus, it appeared that 47% of the structures in these unstimulated glands were secretory, some in the resting state, and others in the initial or later stage of secretion. The biphasic nature of the secretory potential can be explained by postulating that the movement of ions during the initial phase differs from that during the late phase of neurogenic secretion.

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