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Electrically Neutral Ion Transport in Biomembranes

  • Chapter
Physiology of Membrane Disorders

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss mechanisms for the transfer of ions across biomembranes which do not result in any net transfer of electrical charges. To begin with, we consider the measurement of current flow across membranes, in order to show that some ion flows are not detected by this measurement technique. Then, we develop the physical-chemical ideas behind the formation of ion pairs, and discuss several examples relevant to ion fluxes across red blood cells. No attempt has been made to consider all examples of electrically neutral exchanges that take place in biomembranes; rather, attention has been focused on principles and examples in erythrocytes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illionois, USA, 60637

    Robert Burns Gunn

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  1. Robert Burns Gunn
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, USA

    Thomas E. Andreoli M.D. (Professor of Medicine, Director, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics) (Professor of Medicine, Director, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics)

  2. Department of Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, USA

    Joseph F. Hoffman Ph.D. (Eugene Higgins Professor and Chairman) (Eugene Higgins Professor and Chairman)

  3. Division of Nephrology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92037, USA

    Darrell D. Fanestil M.D. (Professor of Medicine, Head) (Professor of Medicine, Head)

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© 1978 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Gunn, R.B. (1978). Electrically Neutral Ion Transport in Biomembranes. In: Andreoli, T.E., Hoffman, J.F., Fanestil, D.D. (eds) Physiology of Membrane Disorders. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3958-8_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3958-8_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3960-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3958-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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