Cation Movements in the High Sodium Erythrocyte of the Cat

Abstract

The uptake of 42K and 24Na by cat erythrocytes was investigated. Under steady-state conditions, the nontransient component of 42K influx was found to be 0.18 [plus or minus] 0.01 meq/liter RBC/hr. and insensitive to ouabain (100 [mu]M); the corresponding value for 24Na was 17 [plus or minus] 1 meq/liter RBC/hr. A study was made of the effects of anions upon cation movements in these and other mammalian red cells. I inhibited markedly (> 50%) Na inward movements in cat and dog but not in the other erythrocytes. An increase (15-30%) in K uptake in the presence of I was noted in all the mammalian cells studied.