Sodium Extrusion and Potassium Uptake in Guinea Pig Kidney Cortex Slices

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Abstract
Slices from the cortex corticis of the guinea pig kidney were immersed in a chilled solution without K and then reimmersed in warmer solutions. The Na and K concentrations and the membrane potential Vm were then studied as a function of the Na and K concentrations of the reimmersion fluid. It was found that Na is extruded from the cells against a large electrochemical potential gradieht. Q10 for net Na outflux was [image] 2.5. At bath K concentrations larger than 8 mM the behavior of K was largely passive. At the outset of reimmersion (Vm > EK) K influx seemed secondary to Na extrusion. Na extrusion would promote K entrance, being limited and requiring the presence of K in the bathing fluid. At bath K concentrations below 8 mM, K influx was up an electrochemical potential gradient. Thus a parallel active K uptake is apparent. Q10 for net K influx was[image] 2.0. Dinitrophenol inhibited net Na outflux and net K influx, Q10 became < 1.1 for both fluxes. The ratio between these fluxes varied. Thus at the outset of reimmersion the net Na outflux to net K influx ratio was > 1. After 8 minutes it was < 1.