We have used dialyzed squid axons to characterize the ouabain- and bumetanide-insensitive Na efflux components and their relation to the operation of the Na/Ca exchange mechanism. In axons dialyzed with solutions containing nearly physiological concentrations of K, Na, and Mg, three components of the Na efflux can be distinguished: Cai-activated, Cao-dependent Na efflux ("reverse" Na/Ca exchang...

To understand the mechanism of Na+ movement through the force-generating units of the Na(+)-driven flagellar motors of Vibrio alginolyticus, the effect of intracellular Na+ concentration on motor rotation was investigated. Control cells containing about 50 mM Na+ showed good motility even at 10 mM Na+ in the medium, i.e. in the absence of an inwardly directed Na+ gradient. In contrast, Na(+)-lo...

1. The inward facing membranes of in vitro frog skin epithelium were depolarized with solutions of high K concentration. The electrical properties of the epithelium are then expected to be governed by the outward facing, Na-selective membrane.2. In this state, the transepithelial voltage (V) was clamped to zero and step-changes of Na activity in the outer solution ((Na)(o)) were performed with ...

In relation to dietary Na(+) intake and aldosterone levels, collecting duct principal cells are exposed to large variations in Na(+) transport. In these cells, Na(+) crosses the apical membrane via epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaC) and is extruded into the interstitium by Na,K-ATPase. The activity of ENaC and Na,K-ATPase must be highly coordinated to accommodate variations in Na(+) transport and...

Spinal cord astrocytes display a high density of voltage-gated Na+ channels. To study the contribution of Na+ influx via these channels to Na+ homeostasis in cultured spinal cord astrocytes, we measured intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]i) with the fluorescent dye sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate. Stellate and nonstellate astrocytes, which display Na+ currents with different propertie...

  In a three-year (2004-2006), field experiment, we aimed to study changes in leaf physiological traits (leaf water potential-Ψleaf, leaf water content-LWC, carbon isotope discrimination-Δ, specific leaf area-SLA, chlorophyll content as assessed by SPAD and modified SPAD-MSPAD) and elemental composition (K, Na, Ca, Mg, K/Na, Ca/Mg, total leaf salinity-TLS) of sugar beets (cv. Rizor) grown unde...

The effects of insulin and ouabain on 22Na efflux and net Na loss were examined in frog sartorius muscles. After removal of ouabain, 22Na efflux which had been inhibited by ouabain remained at the inhibited level for more than 2 hr. In ouabain-free solution, insulin stimulated the Na efflux from ouabain-preincubated muscles. The stimulating effect of insulin on 22Na efflux was completely blocke...

Mechanisms that contribute to Na+ influx during and immediately after 5 min anoxia were investigated in cultured rat hippocampal neurons loaded with the Na+-sensitive fluorophore sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate. During anoxia, an influx of Na+ in the face of reduced Na+,K+-ATPase activity caused a rise in [Na+]i. After the return to normoxia, Na+,K+-ATPase activity mediated the recovery ...

Decades ago, it was proposed that Na transport in cardiac myocytes is modulated by large changes in cytoplasmic Na concentration within restricted subsarcolemmal spaces. Here, we probe this hypothesis for Na/K pumps by generating constitutive transsarcolemmal Na flux with the Na channel opener veratridine in whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Using 25 mM Na in the patch pipette, pump currents d...

Ouabain-sensitive uncoupled Na+ efflux has been studied in human, pig, and rat red cells and in vesicles containing reconstituted kidney Na+/K+ pumps obtained from these same species. The red cells from the different species gave qualitatively similar results; the uncoupled Na+ efflux was 15-30% of the Na+/K+ exchange rate, and this flux was inhibited at 5 mM extracellular Na+ (Na+o). At higher...