Active transport of sodium and potassium by the choroid plexus of the rat

Abstract

1. Choroid plexus from the lateral ventricle in the adult rat was found to contain approximately 54 m-equiv Na(+) and 89 m-equiv K(+) per kg wet tissue.2. The total water (79%), the extracellular space (21%) and the red blood cell volume (8-9%) in choroid plexus were quantified separately by analysing the distribution of [(14)C]antipyrine, [(14)C]inulin and (51)Cr-tagged erythrocytes, respectively, between this tissue and plasma water.3. The tissue electrolyte data together with the compartmental (space) data were used to calculate an average concentration of Na(+) (39 m-equiv/kg cell H(2)O) and of K(+) (144) in the choroid cell.4. Under various experimental conditions known to stimulate or inhibit the Na(+)-K(+) transport system in other tissues, there were significant changes (10-40 m-equiv/kg cell H(2)O) in the concentrations of both these cations in the plexus epithelial cells.5. Choroid cell K(+) was not independent of the concentration of K(+) in plasma since substantial fluctuations in cell K(+) occurred in rats rendered either hypo- or hyperkalaemic; also, the choroid cell apparently cannot maintain a constant gradient between itself and c.s.f. in the face of kalaemic disturbances.6. Evidence is offered to support the hypothesis that the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle has a Na(+)-K(+) pump, the operation of which contributes to the maintenance of K(+) homoeostasis in the C.N.S.