Cellular Electrolyte Metabolism

Definition

Electrolyte metabolism refers to the processes that regulate the electrolyte composition of the body fluid compartments, which in turn regulates the distribution of water among the different compartments – and thus the cell volume. The movement of ions and other polar solutes through cellular membranes is catalyzed by membrane proteins. Transmembrane differences in the concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, and Cl⁻ are important for the generation of transmembrane potential differences. Transmembrane differences in the concentration of Na⁺ are important for the maintenance of cell volume.

In addition to being structural elements in proteins (Yamashita et al. 1990), the alkali metal cations, together with the halide anions, are important for the generation of transmembrane potential differences (Sten-Knudsen 2002) and the regulation of cell volume (Hoffmann et al. 2009). Transmembrane potential differences (or membrane potentials) are generated when the ion concentrations in the...