Human duodenal spheroids for noninvasive intracellular pH measurement and quantification of regulation mechanisms under physiological conditions

Three-dimensional cell cultures (spheroids) of biopsies of human duodenum were used to develop a new noninvasive method for studying intercellular and intracellular mechanisms. Through examinations of intracellular pH regulation, high functional similarity to native tissue could be shown, as already evidenced morphologically. A special microperfusion chamber was developed to fix individual spheroids physically to a nylon net, via laminar perfusion flow through the chamber. A significant improvement over current fixation methods was shown by the increase of cell viability almost up to 100%. Viability of the spheroids was confirmed by trypan blue exclusion, by a LIVE/DEAD viability/cytotoxicity kit, and by BCECF distribution. Intracellular pH was measured by use of the pH-sensitive fluorescence dye BCECF. To investigate the intracellular pH regulation, spheroid-like vesicles were acidified by NH4Cl prepulse technique. The subsequent active intracellular pH recovery was blocked with Na+-free Krebs Henseleit (KH) solution, with amiloride KH (inhibitor of the Na+−H+-exchanger), or with H2DIDS KH (inhibitor of the HCO3 −−Cl−-exchanger and Na+−HCO3 −-cotransporter). The intracellular pH of the spheroids was 7.31±0.05. pHi-backregulation after acidification was prevented by sodium-free buffer, amiloride, and H2DIDS. These experiments indicated the presence of a Na+−H+-exchanger and a Na+−HCO3 −-cotransporter. In conclusion, the human duodenal spheroid is an excellent physiological system for in vitro studies of the human duodenum.