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Biochemical aspects of the visual process

X. Distribution and movements of ions in the dark-adapted retina of the cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)

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Summary

The intracellular cation concentrations in isolated Sepia retina were obtained by flamephotometric cation determinations before and after incubation in artificial seawater with choline replacing sodium. Intracellular Na and K concentrations of 340 and 145 mmole/l water respectively were found against extracellular Na and K concentrations of 470 mmol/le and 10 mmole/l. The influx kinetics of86Rb shows that rubidium is taken up against its concentration gradient. Ouabain (10−4–10−3M) markedly inhibits this uptake. The efflux kinetics revealed a fastexchanging extracellular compartment (t 1/2=1.5 min) and a slowly-exchanging intracellular compartment (t 1/2=34 min). A doubling of the efflux rate by ouabain was explained partly in terms of cell depolarization, and partly either as a small direct increase in permeability or inhibition of back-pumping from the extracellular space.

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Duncan, G., de Pont, J.J.H.H.M. & Bonting, S.L. Biochemical aspects of the visual process. Pflugers Arch. 322, 264–277 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00602074

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00602074

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