Ussing chamber technique a tool for studying antisecretory and barrier protective effects of plant extracts
V. M. Ragitha1, S. Shiburaj2 and N. S. Pradeep*3
1Research Scholar, KSCSTE-Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Palode-695562 (India) 2Department of Botany, Kerala University, Kariavattom-695581 (India) 3*KSCSTE-Malabar Botanical Garden & Institute for Plant Sciences Guruvayurappan College P.O., Kozhikode-673014 (India) 3*Address for correspondence: drnspradeep@gmail.com malabarbot.garden@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Ussing chamber technique is widely used to study the transport of electrolytes, drugs, and other molecules across various epithelial tissues. The short circuit current (Isc) in Ussing chamber studies is a measure of electrogenic ion movement and the ion movement at the resting stage is considered the basal Isc. Diarrhea results from increased anion secretion. Thus to study anion secretion using Ussing chamber technique, it is important to identify the nature of basal Isc in intestinal tissues of Swiss albino male mice in Ussing chamber studies. In Ussing chamber studies, the conductance is a measure of the viability of intestinal tissues. The change in conductance with time is essential to standardize the time for Ussing chamber experiments. These studies confirmed that the Isc in intestinal tissues of Swiss albino mice was mostly contributed by anion secretion. The increased Isc and G with time in Ussing chamber studies can be used to study the antisecretory and barrier protective functions of plant extracts.