Cation movements across mouse red blood cells

Abstract

This paper describes some features of the Na and K transport systems in red cells obtained from B10.A mice. When mouse erythrocytes were incubated in a plasma-like control medium, the scillaren-sensitive Na efflux was 3.6 +/- 0.4 mmol/l red blood cells per h while the scillaren-sensitive K influx was 3.1 +/- 0.3, values not significantly different from ech other. Scillaren had no significant effect on either Na influx or K efflux. There was a large (approx. 3 mmol/l red blood cells per h) scillaren-sensitive, Na-Na exchange diffusion component present under K-free conditions. When K was present in the incubation medium, this exchange system was suppressed.