Volume-responsive sodium and proton movements in dog red blood cells.

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Abstract
Shrinkage of dog red blood cells (RBC) activates a Na transport pathway that is Cl dependent, amiloride sensitive, and capable of conducting Na-H+ counterflow. It is possible to establish transmembrane gradients for either Na or H+ and to demonstrate that each cation species can drive reciprocal movements of the other. The nature of the coupling between Na and H+ movements was investigated using the fluorescent probe diS-C3 and also by an indirect method in which K movements through valinomycin channels were used to draw inferences about the membrane potential. No evidence was found to suggest that the Na-H+ pathway activated by shrinkage of dog RBC is a conductive one. By exclusion, it is presumed that the coupling between the counterflow of Na and H+ is electroneutral. The volume-activated Na-H+ fluxes in dog RBC have certain properties that distinguish them from similar transport pathways in other cell types.

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