Ion transport in sheep red blood cells

Abstract

There is a polymorphism (HK/LK or high potassium/low potassium) of the cation concentrations in sheep red cells which also affects the cation transport pathways in these cells. The current status of understanding of two of these pathways in LK red cells, the Na/K pump and the K-Cl cotransporter, is summarized here. Recent results are presented on stimulation of the Na/K pump by insulin-like growth factor, and on the transduction mechanism by which changes in cell volume modulate the K-Cl cotransporter.