A simple and novel method for radiometric analysis of glucose utilization by adrenal chromaffin cells

Glucose utilization by cells and tissues can be followed by measuring the release of [³H]H₂O from added d-[5-³H]glucose, and we have developed a method whereby the whole reaction and assay can be performed in a single scintillation vial. The basic principle behind our new assay is that the released tritiated hydrogen ion in water can be quantitatively exchanged with the hydroxyl proton of simple alcohols such as isoamyl alcohol. The radiolabeled alcohol can then be extracted into an organic solvent to which 2,5-diphenyloxazole and p-bis[2-(5-phenyloxazoyl)]benzene have been previously added. Using this new assay we studied isolated chromaffin cells and found them to utilize glucose at a linear rate for at least 30 min. The assay was precise and reproducible enough to allow detailed analysis of various inhibitors of glycolysis and of oxidative phosphorylation. The new method is simple and rapid, can be done in open test tubes, requires no complex equipment, and is intrinsically highly accurate.