The Intracellular pH of Human Leucocytes in Response to Acid—Base Changes in Vitro

1. Viable human leucocytes were isolated from venous blood and suspended in artificial media. Intracellular pH measurements were made by the dimethyloxazolidinedione technique in conditions simulating ‘respiratory’ or ‘metabolic’ acid-base disturbances.

2. Normal intracellular pH was 7·11 ± 0·02 (mean ± 2 sd) at an extracellular Pco₂ of 5·8 kPa and a bicarbonate concentration of 25 mmol/l.

3. ‘Respiratory’ and ‘metabolic’ acidosis caused little change in pH₁ although increases in Pco₂ led to relatively greater falls in pH₁ than did reduction in external bicarbonate concentration.

4. ‘Respiratory’ and ‘metabolic’ alkalosis caused similar and relatively greater increases in the pH₁ when compared with the response to an external acidosis.