23Na and 39K NMR studies of ion transport in human erythrocytes

Abstract

Ion transport in human erythrocytes was studied by 23Na and 39K NMR with an anionic paramagnetic shift reagent, Dy(P3O10)2(7-). The intra- and extracellular 23Na and 39K NMR signals were well separated (over 10 ppm) at 5 mM concentration of the shift reagent. The NMR visibility of the intracellular Na+ and K+ was determined to be 100% in human and duck erythrocytes. The intracellular ion concentrations were 8.1 +/- 0.8 mM Na+ (n = 7) and 110 +/- 12 mM K+ (n = 4) for fresh human erythrocytes. The ouabain-sensitive net Na+ efflux was 1.75 +/- 0.08 mmol/hr per liter of cells at 37 degrees C (n = 3). The gramicidin-induced ion transport in human erythrocytes was also studied by 23Na and 39K NMR or by simultaneous measurements of 23Na NMR and a K+-selective electrode. The time courses of the Na+ and K+ transport induced by the ionophore were biphasic. The initial rapid fluxes were due to an exchange of Na+ for K+, which were found to occur with a 1:1 stoichiometry. The subsequent slow components were the net Na+ and K+ effluxes rate-limited by the Cl- permeability and accompanied by a reduction in cell volume. The Cl- permeability determined from the NMR measurements of these slow fluxes was 3.2 +/- 0.5 X 10(-8) cm/sec at 25 degrees C (n = 4).