Mechanism of anion permeation through the muscle fibre membrane of an elasmobranch fish, Taeniura lymma

Abstract

1. Properties of anion permeation through the membrane of skeletal muscle fibres of the stingray, Taeniura lymma, were studied with intracellular recording and polarization techniques.2. The Cl conductance of the resting membrane in the normal stingray saline at pH 7.7 is 8-10 times greater than the K conductance.3. The Cl conductance decreases with decreasing external pH, with an apparent pK of 5.3, whereas the K conductance is independent of pH between 4 and 9.4. The Q(10) of the Cl conductance is about 2.0, compared with a value of 1.2-1.4 for the K conductance.5. The Cl conductance is proportional to the external Cl concentration when observed after the fibre is equilibrated in the test solution.6. The permeability sequence obtained by potential measurement is SCN > NO(3) > Cl = Br > I > ClO(3) and the permeability ratio is independent of the mole fraction of anions.7. The conductance sequence determined by total replacement of the external Cl with other anion species differs from the permeability sequence and the conductance observed for partial replacement deviates significantly from that expected from the independence principle.8. Possible mechanisms of anion permeation are discussed.