Sodium and potassium fluxes in cells cultured from chick embryo heart muscle

In vivo effects of aflatoxin B1 and benzo[a]pyrene on the heart muscle of chicken embryos

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on the heart muscle of chicken embryos of the broiler line Ross 308. The benzo[a]pyrene in the organic oil solution was injected in ovo on the 6th day of the incubation in doses of: 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg weight of eggs; the aflatoxin B1 in the organic oil solution was injected in ovo on the 6th day of the incubation into the yolk in doses of 80, 120 and 240 ng/kg weight of eggs. Multiple biochemical and hepatic parameters have been observed, including sodium, potassium, chloride, cholesterol, uric acid, total proteins, aminotransferase aspartate, and aminotransferase alanine. A low dose of AFB1 and BaP administered in ovo during early embryonic development had a significant impact on chicken embryonic development, as demonstrated by alterations in biochemical, mineral, and hepatic parameters.

CAT HEART MUSCLE IN VITRO. IV. INHIBITION OF TRANSPORT IN QUIESCENT MUSCLES

Cellular concentrations, [K]_i, [Na]_i, and [Cl]_i, and cell water contents were measured in vitro at 27°C in cat papillary muscles. Measurements were made with and without ouabain at varying concentrations of K and ouabain, at pH 5.2 and 9.0, in absence of O₂, and in NaCl-free solution. Large losses of cell K and increases of cell Na occurred in presence of ouabain, at 2–3°C, and in K-free medium. The dependence of inhibition of cation transport by ouabain on external K concentration, studied at constant initial [K]_i, was consistent with a competition between K and ouabain localized to the external face of the membrane. In NaCl-free sucrose solution [K]_i remained at its physiological value and was not affected by exposure to ouabain or low temperature, except when Ca was also omitted. Ouabain inhibition persisted at pH 9.0 and in Ca-poor media. Cells swelled and lost K at pH 5.2, and residual ouabain effect was small. At pH 9.0, or in absence of O₂, or in Ca-poor solutions cells became permeable to mannitol. The ion movements observed after inhibition of active transport are compatible either with a passive K distribution and a primary inhibition of Na extrusion or with inhibition of a coupled active transport of both K and Na.

CAT HEART MUSCLE IN VITRO. VI. POTASSIUM EXCHANGE IN PAPILLARY MUSCLES

The exchange of cell K with K⁴², J_K, has been measured in cat right ventricular papillary muscle under conditions of a steady state with respect to intracellular K concentration. Within the limits of the measurement, all of cell K exchanged at a single rate. Cells from small cats are smaller and have larger surface/volume ratios than cells from large cats. The larger surface/volume ratio results in larger flux values. J_K increases in an approximately linear manner as the external K concentration is increased twentyfold, from 2.5 to 50 mM, at constant intracellular K concentration. The permeability for K ions, P_K, calculated from the influx and membrane potential, remains very nearly constant over this range of external K concentrations. J_K is not affected by replacement of O₂ by N₂, or by stimulated contractions at 60 per minute, but K influx decreases markedly in 10^-5M and 10^-8M ouabain.

EFFECT OF CURRENT ON TRANSMEMBRANE POTENTIALS IN CULTURED CHICK HEART CELLS

By means of a DC bridge circuit one microelectrode was used for simultaneously passing current and recording transmembrane potentials. In some cells, depolarization increased the frequency of discharge whereas hyperpolarization decreased the frequency; the frequency/current relation was sigmoid. In other cells, polarizing currents were without effect upon frequency. The change in action potential magnitude was in proportion to the degree of polarization. From control values of about 5 mv/sec., the slope of the pacemaker potential increased to 60 mv/sec. upon depolarization and diminished to zero upon hyperpolarization. In many cells a transient hyperpolarization was produced on the cessation of depolarizing currents. The voltage/current relationship was linear and had a slope of about 13 MΩ. With an AC bridge circuit, the cell capacitance averaged 800 pf and the time constant, 9.6 msec. R_m was estimated to be 480 Ω-cm² and C_m, 20 µf/cm². The magnitudes of some prepotentials were affected by polarizing currents, which suggests that the prepotentials represent postsynaptic potentials.

The effects of chloroquine and other weak bases on the accumulation and efflux of digoxin and ouabain in HeLa cells

We have studied the effects of the weak bases chloroquine, NH4Cl and amantadine on the handling of certain cardiac glycosides by HeLa cells. When these weak bases are applied acutely to HeLa cells they have only minor effects on the binding of cardiac glycosides to the sodium pumps and on the recovery of pump function following block. When cells are grown in these weak bases there is a variable (10-30%) reduction in pump numbers. This effect is additive to that of chronic treatment with cardiac glycosides. If all sodium pumps are blocked with ouabain, digoxin or digitoxin then recovery of function recovers with a T1/2 of about 7 h (10% h-1); digoxin and digitoxin molecules are excreted at a similar rate but ouabain excretion occurs at a much slower rate (3% h-1). These weak bases greatly slow (x 3) the rate of excretion of digoxin and digitoxin but do not alter that of ouabain. The process affected by chloroquine was estimated to have a T1/2 of 8 h. Cells grown in the presence of cardiac glycosides accumulate large numbers of glycoside molecules; chloroquine, NH4Cl and amantadine increase the accumulation of digoxin and digitoxin and may decrease that of ouabain. Quantitatively these results fit a model whereby cardiac glycosides are accumulated by HeLa cells bound to the sodium pumps, are processed by the lysosomes and then excreted. The results are consistent with a process of internalisation and renewal of sodium pumps by HeLa cells.

K+ transport in "tight' epithelial monolayers of MDCK cells

Bidirectional transepithelial K+ flux measurements across 'high-resistance' epithelial monolayers of MDCK cells grown upon millipore filters show no significant net K+ flux. Measurements of influx and efflux across the basal-lateral and apical cell membranes demonstrate that the apical membranes are effectively impermeable to K+. K+ influx across the basal-lateral cell membranes consists of an ouabain-sensitive component, an ouabain-insensitive component, an ouabain-insensitive but furosemide-sensitive component, and an ouabain- and furosemide-insensitive component. The action of furosemide upon K+ influx is independent of (Na+ - K+)-pump inhibition. The furosemide-sensitive component is markedly dependent upon the medium K+, Na+ and Cl- content. Acetate and nitrate are ineffective substitutes for Cl-, whereas Br- is partially effective. Partial Cl- replacement by NO3 gives a roughly linear increase in the furosemide-sensitive component. Na+ replacement by choline abolishes the furosemide-sensitive component, whereas Li+ is a partially effective replacement. Partial Na+ replacement by choline abolishes the furosemide-sensitive component, whereas Li+ is a partially effective replacement. Partial Na+ replacement with choline gives an apparent affinity of approximately 7 mM Na, whereas variation of the external K+ content gives an affinity of the furosemide-sensitive component of 1.0 mM. Furosemide inhibition is of high affinity (K1/2 = 3 micrometer). Piretanide, ethacrynic acid, and phloretin inhibit the same component of passive K+ influx as furosemide; amiloride, 4,-aminopyridine, and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine partially so. SITS was ineffective. Externally applied furosemide and Cl- replacement by NO3- inhibit K+ efflux across the basal-lateral membranes indicating that the furosemide-sensitive component consists primarily of K:K exchange.

Influence of monovalent cations on the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from rabbit skeletal and dog cardiac muscles. An interpretation of transient-state kinetic data

Transient-state kinetics of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles from rabbit skeletal and dog cardiac muscles were studied in the presence of varying concentrations of monovalent and divalent cations. Monovalent cations affect the two types of sarcoplasmic reticulum differently. When the rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum was Ca2+ deficient, preincubation with K+ (as compared with preincubation with choline chloride) did not affect initial phosphorylation at various concentrations of Ca2+, added with ATP to phosphorylate the enzyme. This is in contrast to preincubation with K+ of the Ca2+-deficient dog cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, which resulted in an increase in the phosphoenzyme level. When Ca2+ was bound to the rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum, K+ inhibited E - P formation; but under the same conditions, E - P formation of dog cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum was activated by K+ at 12 microM Ca2+ and inhibited at 0.33 and 1.3 microM Ca2+. Li+, Na+ and K+ also have different effects on E - P decomposition of skeletal and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. The latter responded less to these cations than the former. Studies with ADP revealed differences between the two types of sarcoplasmic reticulum. For rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum, 40% of the phosphoenzyme formed was 'ADP sensitive', and the decay of the remaining E - P was enhanced by K+ and ADP. Dog cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum yielded about 40--48% ADP-sensitive E - P, but the decomposition rate of the remaining E - P was close to the rate measured in the absence of ADP. Thus, these studies showed certain qualitative differences in the transformation and decomposition of phosphoenzymes between skeletal and cardiac muscle which may have bearing on physiological differences between the two muscle types.

The action of ouabain upon chloride secretion in cultured MDCK epithelium

Net Na+ loss from confluent monolayers of cultured epithelial cells grown on plastic petri dishes into choline chloride is consistent with loss from two separate pools (t 1/2 2.4 and 43.7 min). Tissue K+ is lost with a single time constant (t 1/2 76.9 min). Since tissue equilibration of [14C]inulin is also rapid (t 1/2 approx. 1 min), it is inferred that the fast component of Na+ loss comprises loss from extracellular pools, whereas the slow component comprises intracellular loss. By washing extracellular cations from cell monolayers and directly measuring cell numbers and volumes by Coulter Counter, intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations were estimated to be 16 +/- 2 (S.E.) and 151 +/- 2 (S.E.) mM. Ouabain at high concentrations (1 x 10(-5) to 1 x 10(-3) M) raised intracellular Na+, and lowered intracellular K+. The t 1/2 for cation equilibration with the external medium was approx. 70 min (+ ouabain). Ouabain inhibited ATP-stimulated Cl- secretion by epithelial MDCK monolayers mounted in Ussing chambers. The inhibition was time-dependent and consistent with dissipation of intracellular cation gradients. The ATP-dependent increase in monolayer conductance, observed in control tissues, was largely unaffected by ouabain.

Cation exchange and glycoside binding in cultured rat heart cells

The Na/K-exchange characteristics, ouabain-binding kinetics, and Na pump turnover rates of synchronously contracting monolayers of neonatal rat myocardial cells were studied. The cells exchange Na rapidly (T1/2 = 35 s) with a mean Na flux of approximately 25 (pmol/cm2)/s. The half time (T1/2) of K exchange is much longer (12 min); the mean K flux is 13 (pmol/cm2)/s. Active Na/K transport, as measured by K influx, is relatively ouabain sensitive, and 10(-6) M ouabain produces half-maximal inhibition. Ouabain (10(-2)M) inhibits 60% of the Na efflux and 75% of the K influx. The cells bind [3H]ouabain rapidly (T1/2 = 8 min), but release it very slowly (T1/2 = 11 h), and both the amount bound and the rate of binding were inversely proportional to extracellular K. Specific [3H]ouabain binding demonstrates saturation reaching a maximum of 1.6 x 10(6) molecules per cell at 2 x 10(-7) M [3H]ouabain. From cell surface area and ouabain-sensitive flux measurements, the Na pump density was calculated at 720/micrometer2 with an individual pump turnover rate of 50/s. Thus the studies indicate that despite their neonatal origin, the behavior of the Na pump in these cells is very similar to that in other mammalian tissues.

The effects of external cations and ouabain on the intracellular sodium activity of sheep heart Purkinje fibres

1. The intracellular Na activity of sheep heart Purkinje fibres has been measured using recessed-tip Na(+)-sensitive glass micro-electrodes.2. The internal Na activity was 7.2 +/- 2.0 mM (mean +/- S.D., n = 32) at the normal external Na concentration, [Na](o), in these experiments of 140 mM (equivalent to an external Na activity of 105 mM). The equilibrium potential for Na across the fibre membrane was therefore approximately + 70 mV.3. When the [K](o) was altered the internal Na activity changed, reaching a new level within about 20 min. Increasing the [K](o) from 4 to 25 mM decreased the internal Na by approximately 30%, while decreasing the [K](o) from 4 to 1 mM increased internal Na by 20%.4. The removal of external K produced an easily reversible increase in the internal Na with an initial rate equivalent to a concentration change of 0.24 +/- 0.07 m-mole/min (mean +/- S.D., n = 8).5. Ouabain produced increases in the internal Na activity that were only very slowly reversible. The threshold concentration for producing an increase was approximately 10(-7)M.6. When [Na](o) was reduced the internal Na activity fell rapidly with a single exponential time course (time constant 3.3 +/- 0.8 min, mean +/- S.D., n = 16) to a new, relatively stable level. The recovery of internal Na on return to the normal [Na](o) did not have a simple time course. It was normally complete within 10-30 min.7. The relationship of the stabilized level of the internal Na activity to the [Na](o) was approximately linear over the range 140-14 mM-[Na](o). When [Na](o) was reduced from 140 to 14 mM the internal Na activity fell by 72 +/- 5% (mean +/- S.D., n = 21).8. When the [Na](o) was reduced, the decrease in the internal Na activity was partially inhibited by Mn or by removal external Ca.9. When the [Ca](o) was altered over the range 0.2-16 mM the internal Na activity was reduced by approximately 50% for a tenfold increase in the [Ca](o).10. The relationship between internal Na and contractility is discussed.

Oscillations of membrane potential in L cells. I. Basic characteristics

The membrane potentials and resistances of L cells were measured using a standard electrophysiological technique. The values obtained in physiological media were around--15 mV and 37Momega, respectively. Almost all the large nondividing L cells (giant L cells) showed spontaneous oscillations of the membrane potential between around -15 and -40 mV. Application of an appropriate electrical or mechanical stimulus was also capable of eliciting responses but such were usually induced only once. The total membrane conductance increased significantly and in parallel with such a hyperpolarizing response. Cooling of the cells and application of metabolic inhibitors to the cells completely blocked the spontaneous oscillation despite the fact that the electrically induced hyperpolarizing response remained. Intracellular K+, Na+ and Cl- concentrations were measured by means of a flame photometer and a chloridometer, and the equilibrium potential for each ion was estimated.

Growth orientation of heart cells on nylon monofilament. Determination of the volume-to-surface area ratio and intracellular potassium concentration

A new method is described for orienting the growth of embryonic chick heart cells as thin annuli about nylon monofilament. Analytical measurements of cell water, intracellular potassium, cell volume, and cell surface area incorporate several new techniques and provide the quantitative basis for characterizing the respective cell types in the preparation. The measurements support the hypothesis that tissue culture methodology does not alter the morphological and physiological properties of cardiac muscle cells. The preparations are ideally suited for radiotracer studies since tissue mass can be increased while retaining a relatively short diffusional distance.

Compartmental analysis of potassium efflux from growth-oriented heart cells

Radioisotopic flux studies were initiated with a new preparation of growth-oriented heart cells to determine the contribution of heterogeneous cell types and the limitations of extracellular diffusion in quantitating the passive movement of potassium ions. The efflux of potassium-42 from contractile preparations, which contain two populations of cells, cardiac muscle and fibroblastlike, could be resolved into two components similar to that described for naturally occurring preparations of cardiac muscle. Compartmental analysis of the efflux data, using analog and digital computational methods, resolved the tracer kinetics into a slow compartment (k=0.015 min-1) associated with fibroblastlike cells and a fast compartment (k=0.067 min-1) associated with the cardiac muscle cells. The rate constants derived from compartmental analysis were independent of tracer equilibration and preparation dry weight. Analytical measurements of the preparations provided a quantitative basis for determing the transmembrane potassium fluxes from the tracer kinetics. Cardiac muscle cells stimulated at a rate of 150 min-1 in the presence of 5.4 mM external potassium were found to have a potassium efflux of 15.7 pmoles cm-2sec-1 whereas the value obtained for the fibroblastlike cells was 1.88 pmoles cm-2sec-1. Diffusional limitations of 42K efflux were analyzed for several important variables which can affect isotopic reflux, namely, transmembrane flux, cell volume-to-surface area and cell packing fraction.

Effect of quinidine and temperature on sodium uptake and contraction frequency of cultured rat myocardial cells

The effects of quinidine and temperature on Na influx and contraction frequency of synchronously contracting rat myocardial cells in monolayer cultures were studied. Quinidine (10(-6) M to 10(-1) M) produced a prompt reduction in Na influx, maximum after 30 seconds of exposure, and dose-dependent along a sigmoid log dose-response curve. At 37 degrees C, Na influx (mumol/10(11) cells per sec) decreased from 30.19 to 24.70 (P less than 0.001) and 10.49 (P less than 0.001) on exposure to quinidine, 10(-6) and 10(-2) M, respectively. Simultaneously the contraction frequency decreased from a control of 120/min to 105/min and 48/min with 10(-6) M and 5 X 10(-4) M quinidine. At higher concentrations spontaneous contractions ceased. The effects on Na influx and contraction were reversible by washing the cells free of the drug (30 seconds). A temperature-dependent decrease in the Na influx between 37 degrees C and 22 degrees C also induced a decrease in contraction frequency. Between 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C the Q10 values for Na influx and contraction frequency were 2.41 and 2.44 respectively. Under all conditions tested there was a constant linear relationship (r = 0.98) between Na influx and contraction frequency for all values of Na influx greater than 11.82 mumol/10(11) cells per sec. Na influx and contraction frequency were insensitive to tetrodotoxin (10(-5) g/ml) but very sensitive to verapamil and to changes in extracellular Na. Quinidine affected only the verapamil-sensitive Na influx. The results indicate a close relationship between verapamil-sensitive inward Na movement and automaticity in these cells and demonstrate that the quinidine-induced changes in automaticity are closely linked to the effect on Na influx.

The ionic basis of the membrane potential in a rat glial cell line

Intracellular ionic concentrations, membrane potential and Na+ and K+ flux were measured in a clonal rat glial cell line, C6. Intracellular concentrations of C6 cells were: (mmole/liter cell water) K+ 145 +/- 4 S.D., Na+ 18 +/- 4 S.D., Cl- 14 +/- 1 S.D. Cells maintained a steady state level of K+ over the duration of the experiments. This was substantiated by the close agreement between absolute values for K+ influx and efflux measured with 42K. When cells were depleted of internal Na+, K+ influx was significantly reduced suggesting that a portion of inward K+ movement is linked to Na+ extrusion. Efflux of Na+, calculated from the half-time of exchange from cells preloaded with 22Na, was higher than passive Na+ influx determined by blocking Na+ extrusion with ouabain. Since cell Na+ concentration remained relatively constant, part of the Na+ efflux may be due to exchange diffusion. The average membrane potential of C6 cells uas -36 mV. The potential showed a 31 mV slope for a 10-fold change in external K+ so that it is determined predominantly by the ratio of external/internal K+. The potential however, consistent with the relatively large passive Na+ influx, was influenced by Na+. Replacing all but 20 mM external Na+ with choline hyperpolarized the membrane by 13 mV. The ratio of PNa/PK of 0.11 suggests that Na+ is outwardly transported to maintain the steady-state concentrations observed. Since these responses are similar to those in non-tumor glia, it suggests that the C6 cell line may provide a useful model for studying ionic regulation in glial cells.

A synthetic strand of cardiac muscle: its passive electrical properties

The passive electrical properties of synthetic strands of cardiac muscle, grown in tissue culture, were studied using two intracellular microelectrodes: one to inject a rectangular pulse of current and the other to record the resultant displacement of membrane potential at various distances from the current source. In all preparations, the potential displacement, instead of approaching a steady value as would be expected for a cell with constant electrical properties, increased slowly with time throughout the current step. In such circumstances, the specific electrical constants for the membrane and cytoplasm must not be obtained by applying the usual methods, which are based on the analytical solution of the partial differential equation describing a one-dimensional cell with constant electrical properties. A satisfactory fit of the potential waveforms was, however, obtained with numerical solutions of a modified form of this equation in which the membrane resistance increased linearly with time. Best fits of the waveforms from 12 preparations gave the following values for the membrane resistance times unit length, membrane capacitance per unit length, and for the myoplasmic resistance: 1.22 plus or minus 0.13 x 10-5 omegacm, 0.224 plus or minus 0.023 uF with cm-minus 1, and 1.37 plus or minus 0.13 x 10-7 omegacm-minus 1, respectively. The value of membrane capacitance per unit length was close to that obtained from the time constant of the foot of the action potential and was in keeping with the generally satisfactory fit of the recorded waveforms with solutions of the cable equation in which the membrane impedance is that of a single capacitor and resistor in parallel. The area of membrane per unit length and the cross-sectional area of myoplasm at any given length of the preparation were determined from light and composite electron micrographs, and these were used to calculate the following values for the specific electrical membrane resistance, membrane capacitance, and the resistivity of the cytoplasm: 20.5 plus or minus 3.0 x 10-3 omegacm-2, l.54 plus or minus 0.24 uFWITHcm-minus 2, and 180 plus or minus 34 omegacm, respectively.

Ion levels and membrane potential in chick heart tissue and cultured cells

Intracellular concentrations of sodium and potassium as well as resting potentials and overshoots have been determined in heart tissue from chick embryos aged 2-18 days. Intracellular potassium declined from 167 mM at day 2 to 117-119 mM at days 14-18. Intracellular sodium remained nearly constant at 30-35 mM during the same period. The mean resting potential increased from -61.8 mV at day 3 to about -80 mV at days 14-18. The mean overshoot during the same period increased from 12 to 30 mV. P(Na)/P(K) calculated from the ion data and resting potentials declined from 0.08 at day 3 to 0.01 at days 14-18. Thus, the development of embryonic chick heart during days 2-14 is characterized by a declining intracellular potassium concentration and an increasing resting potential and overshoot. Heart cells from 7- to 8-day embryos, cultured either in monolayer or reassociated into aggregates, were compared with intact tissue of the same age. The intracellular concentrations of sodium and potassium were similar in the three preparations and cultured cells responded to incubation in low potassium medium or treatment with ouabain in a manner similar to that of intact tissue. Resting potentials and overshoots were also similar in the three preparations.

Effect of prolonged ouabain treatment of Na, K, Cl and Ca concentration and fluxes in cultured human cells

1. Girardi and Hela cells (derived from human heart and cervix respectively) were grown as monolayer cultures in B.M.E. (Eagles basal medium) containing concentrations of ouabain up to 5 x 10(-8)M for periods ranging up to 5 days. The cell sizes, numbers, Na, K, Cl, and Ca concentrations and fluxes were then measured.2. Twenty-four hours incubation in ouabain concentrations equal to or less than 5 x 10(-8)M caused a rise in [Na](i) and an almost equal fall in [K](i) to new steady levels. The concentrations so reached were linearly related to the ouabain concentrations, such that in 5 x 10(-8)M ouabain [Na](i) rose to 124 m-mole/l. intracellular water and [K](i) fell to 55 m-mole/l. i.c. water in Girardi cells. In Hela cells the changes were smaller at any particular ouabain concentration. These levels were maintained constant for at least 5 days.3. In cells in the logarithmic phase of growth, raising [Na](i) and lowering [K](i) by ouabain caused a slowing of growth rate proportional to the ouabain concentration used. In cells in the stationary phase there was no change in the cell numbers over 24 hr. The volume of the cells was not directly affected by the treatment.4. Reducing [K](o) from the normal value of 5.4 to 2.5 mM increased the effect of any ouabain concentration, whereas increasing [K](o) to 7.5 decreased the effect of ouabain.5. Reduction of [K](o) to 2.5 mM had no effect on the [K](i) or [Na](i) but halved the cell numbers, probably by a reduction in the growth rate. The mechanism of this effect is obscure.6. In Girardi cells raising [Na](i) and lowering [K](i) by prolonged treatment increases the total Na fluxes and decreases the total K fluxes but keeps the total Na + K flux constant. High-Na, low-K cells had a reduced Na:K exchange compared to fresh cells and also had a Na:K pumped ratio nearer 4:1 than the 3:2 normally found.7. These cells also show ouabain-sensitive and ouabain-insensitive Na:Na exchanges. In high-Na, low-K cells the ouabain sensitive Na:Na exchange is the same as in fresh cells. The effect of treatment on the ouabain insensitive Na:Na exchanges has not been elucidated.8. The Cl content and fluxes are not altered by prolonged ouabain treatment. From this it is inferred that the membrane potential in high-Na, low-K cells is the same as in normal cells.9. High-Na, low-K cells have the same calcium content and fluxes as fresh cells. From this it is concluded that there is no Na:Ca coupling in these cells.

Binding of the cardiac glycoside ouabain to intact cells

1. Measurements were made of the binding of [(3)H]ouabain to a variety of cell types.2. Two components of binding could usually be distinguished: a component that saturated at low glycoside concentrations and a component that increased up to the highest ouabain concentrations examined.3. Detailed studies with HeLa cells and kidney slices from guinea-pigs showed that the saturable component is probably associated with inhibition of the Na pump. The main evidence for this is (a) at low concentrations of ouabain there is a close correspondence between the concentration of ouabain giving half-maximum binding and the concentration giving half-maximum inhibition of the Na pump; (b) at low glycoside concentrations, binding precedes inhibition of the Na pump; (c) the rate of binding is very sensitive to external K ions, being highest in the absence of K; (d) binding is reversible and the release of ouabain is associated with reactivation of the Na pump, (e) binding is reduced in the absence of Na ions and in the presence of metabolic inhibitors; (f) binding has a Q(10) of about 4; and (g) in the presence of Na and ATP, lysed HeLa cells bind a similar amount of ouabain and the binding is sensitive to K ions.4. The linear component of binding does not seem to involve the Na pump and it may reflect uptake of ouabain into the cell interior. It has a Q(10) of 2.5 and is unaffected by K concentrations which have a large effect on the saturable component.5. Bound ouabain could be removed from HeLa cells by low pH, trichloroacetic acid, urea, high temperatures and 100% ethanol. These agents did not distinguish between the two components of binding.6. Criteria are developed for estimating the number of Na pumping sites in cells and the data for ouabain-binding to a number of cells is compared with the activity of the (Na + K)-activated ATPase in the same tissues. Although the number of pumping sites varies from less than 1/mu(2) to 1500/mu(2) of membrane, the turnover at these sites seems to be fairly constant between 3,500 and 15,000 min(-1) at 35 degrees C.

Effect of ouabain and metabolic inhibitors on the Na and K movements and nucleotide contents of L cells

1. The general characteristics and Na and K movements of L cells (derived from mouse epithelium) have been measured. Both cells grown in suspension (LS cells) and as a monolayer (L cells) were used.2. The volume of L cells was 1.2 x 10(-9) cm(3) and of LS cells 3.5 x 10(-9) cm(3); of this 82% was water.3. Electron micrographs showed the presence of numerous protrusions (filopodia) from both forms of the cell. These had the effect of increasing the surface area of the cell by 2-4 times over smooth cells of the same volume. On changing from the flattened to the spherical shape during trypsinization, the filopodia altered to maintain a constant V/A ratio.4. These cells contain K, about 170 m-mole/l. intracellular water and Na, 9 m-mole/l. intracellular water (L cells only) at 20 degrees C. The K fluxes are 1.9 p-mole/cm(2) sec for LS cells and 0.8 p-mole/cm(2) sec for L cells and the Na fluxes are 1.8 p-mole/cm(2) sec for L cells (expressed as per total cell surface (including filopodia)). If expressed as p-mole/cell per sec then L and LS cells have the same K flux.5. 10(-4)M ouabain reduces the K influx to half, indicating an insensitivity to the glycosides common to the species. In the prolonged presence of ouabain the cells come into a new steady state with a [K](1), of 140 and a [Na](1) of 20-30 m-mole/l. intracellular water, but a constant [Na + K](1).6. Both DNP (10(-3)M) and IAA (10(-4)M) are required for maximum inhibition of K uptake, as both aerobic and anaerobic metabolic pathways may be used to drive the pump.7. K removal decreases the Na efflux, and Na removal (eventually) decreases the K influx providing evidence for Na/K coupling.8. The cells contain 7.5 m-mole/litre intracellular water of ATP, a level some 15 times that of ADP.9. The Na pump in these cells is very similar to that found in other tissues in that (a) it requires K to work, (b) it is blocked by ouabain and metabolic inhibitors and (c) it transports three molecules of Na for each two molecules of K.

Calcium exchange in a single layer of rat cardiac cells studied by direct counting of cellular activity of labeled calcium

Calcium exchange was studied in rat cardiac cells grown in tissue culture. A new technique was employed which depended on the growth of a single layer of cells on the surface of a slide composed of glass scintillator material. The cells remained actively contractile on the glass surface. The pattern of 45 Ca uptake and washout from the preparation was defined and found to be reproducible. Low Na + perfusion rapidly augmented 45 Ca uptake in the cultured cells. An increment in 45 Ca uptake (65 µmoles Ca 2+ /kg cells) occurred within 6 seconds of the start of low Na + perfusion.

The electrical activity of embryonic chick heart cells isolated in tissue culture singly or in interconnected cell sheets

Embryonic chick heart cells were cultured on a plastic surface in sparse sheets of 2-50 cells mutually in contact, or isolated as single cells. Conditions are described which permitted conjoint cells to be impaled with recording microelectrodes with 75 % success, and isolated single cells with 8 % success. It is proposed that cells in electrical contact with neighbors are protected from irreversible damage by the penetrating electrode, by a flow of ions or other substances from connected cells across low-impedance intercellular junctions. Action potentials recorded from conjoint and isolated single cells were similar in form and amplitude. The height or shape of the action potential thus appears not to depend upon spatial relationships of one cell to another. As the external potassium concentration was increased from 1.3 mM to 6 mM, cells became hyperpolarized while the afterhyperpolarization was reduced. At higher potassium levels, the afterhyperpolarization disappeared, the slope of the slow diastolic depolarization decreased, and resting potential fell along a linear curve with a slope of 61 mv per 10-fold increase in potassium. In pacemaker cells the diastolic depolarization consists of two phases: (a) recovery from the afterpotential of the previous action potential and (b) the pacemaker potential. These phases are separated by a point of inflection, and represent manifestations of different mechanisms. Evidence is presented that it is the point of inflection (PBA) rather than the point of maximal diastolic potential, that should be taken as the resting potential.

The effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine on the potassium exchange of human platelets

1. The concentration of potassium in platelets freshly isolated from nine persons was 74 +/- 4.8 mumole/10(11) platelets (mean +/- S.E.M.).2. The influx of potassium into platelets from citrated plasma at 37 degrees C, estimated with the use of (42)K, was 18.3 +/- 1.6 n-mole/sec. 10(11) platelets.3. When plasma contained 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) at a concentration of about 5 mug/ml., the influx of potassium into platelets was increased for as long as they took up 5-HT. This effect was absent when the concentration of 5-HT was either lower (2 mug/ml.) or much higher (50 mug/ml.).4. The concentration of 5-HT in the platelets did not affect their potassium flux.