THE POTASSIUM UPTAKE AND RATE OF OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF ISOLATED FROG SKELETAL MUSCLE IN THE PRESENCE OF INSULIN AND LACTATE

Abstract

Insulin (5.0 x 10-2 units/ml) and lactate (5.0 x 10-2[image]) caused an uptake of K by intact frog skeletal muscles in vitro, and a concomitant loss of K from the medium surrounding the muscles; this fluid was Ringer''s solution containing 2.1 meq of K/l. Thus a movement of K against a high concentration gradient was demonstrated. In general, the conditions under which K uptake occurred stim-ulated the O2 consumption of the muscles. Monoiodoacetic acid (2.5 x 1O-4[image]) abolished the effect of insulin on the K uptake and greatly reduced its effect on the O2 consumption.