Pflügers Archiv

, Volume 364, Issue 2, pp 147–155 | Cite as

Studies on the lithium transport across the red cell membrane

I. Li+ uphill transport by the Na+-dependent Li+ counter-transport system of human erythrocytes
  • Jochen Duhm
  • Franz Eisenried
  • Bernhard F. Becker
  • Waldemar Greil
Article
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Summary

Li+ net-transfer across cell membranes was studied on human erythrocytes and ghosts preloaded with 1–2 mM Li+ and incubated in saline media of varying composition at initial thermodynamic equilibrium for Li+. The following results were obtained:

  1. 1.

    Li+ is extruded from glycolyzing erythrocytes against an electrochemical gradient until a steadystate Li+ distribution is established after 24–28 h.

     
  2. 2.

    The initial rate of Li+ extrusion is not altered by ouabain or by reduction of ATP levels to less than 25% of the normal value.

     
  3. 3.

    Replacement of external Na+ by K+ or choline+ abolishes the establishment of an electrochemical Li+ gradient.

     
  4. 4.

    The Li+ distribution ratio Li e + /Li i + increases proportional to the ratio Na e + /Na i + at constant extracellular K+ concentrations.

     
  5. 5.

    In ghost suspension an uphill Li+ transport is driven by an oppositely directed Na+ gradient. The direction of the Li+ uphill transport can be reversed by reversing the Na+ gradient.

     

From the results it is concluded that the Li+ uphill transport across human red cell membranes is mediated by a Na+-dependent Li+ counter-transport system. This system is not inhibited by ouabain and does not appear to be identical to the Na+−Na+ exchange system described by Garrahan and Glynn [24].

Key words

Lithium Erythrocytes Ghosts Transport 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1976

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jochen Duhm
    • 1
  • Franz Eisenried
    • 2
  • Bernhard F. Becker
    • 1
  • Waldemar Greil
    • 2
  1. 1.Physiologisches InstitutUniversität MünchenMünchenFederal Republic of Germany
  2. 2.Psychiatrische KlinikUniversität MünchenMünchenFederal Republic of Germany

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