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Ionic exchanges in isolated and open-circuited toad skin

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Summary

Net influxes of Na and Cl and effluxes of K and H (J Na,J Cl,J K andJ H) and volume flowJ v across isolated open-circuited toad skins were measured using rotating chambers and a small volume of external solution, the ion fluxes being determined by chemical analysis of the external solution, in the range of 0.2 to 5.0mm external Na concentration. In this concentration range, with skin potential varying with (Na) e ,J Na is a linear function of the Na electrochemical potential difference across the skin, as expected on irreversible thermodynamic grounds. TheL Na coefficient calculated asΔJ Na/Δμ Na is equal to 5.5×10−12 mole2 joule−1 cm−2 min−1, which is similar to values obtained for the same species in the short-circuited state and in higher ranges of (Na) e . A positive correlation is observed betweenJ Na andJ K whenJ Na varied with (Na) e and also whenJ Na varies in randomly selected skins. Antidiuretic hormone stimulatesJ Na,J K andJ v in the range of 0.2 to 5.0mm (Na) e and lowers the Na concentration in the equivalent solution absorbed by the skin (calculated asJ Na/J v ). Substitution of external Cl by SO4 has no effect onJ Na,J K andJ H and also in the skin potential in the range of (Na) e studied. Substitution of external Na by K abolishesJ Cl and reverses the skin polarity, the external solution now being positive to the internal one. Na removal from the external solution also reducesJ K almost to zero.J H is significantly reduced in this condition; however, a basal secretion still persists with (Na) e equal to zero. The results of these experiments can be tentatively interpreted in terms of electrical coupling between ion fluxes, since only the procedures that result in alterations of skin potential are followed by changes in the rates of ion transport. The existence of other coupling mechanisms cannot be ruled out.

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  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil

    J. Procopio & F. Lacaz Vieira

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  1. J. Procopio
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Procopio, J., Vieira, F.L. Ionic exchanges in isolated and open-circuited toad skin. J. Membrain Biol. 35, 219–237 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01869951

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01869951

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