Cadmium-induced Decrease in the Outer Facing Skin Resistance of a Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Abstract
Effects of Cd on the electrical properties of frog skin were investigated by using the microelectrode technique. The epidermal application of 2 mM Cd for 5 min increased both the short circuit current and the skin potential, and decreased the skin resistance (RM). Cd also decreased intracellular potential with reference to the epidermal solution (PDi) and the electrical resistance between the epidermal solution and the tip of a microelectrode (RMi) located in the stratum germinativum. .DELTA.RM that is RM,Cd - RM,control seemed to approximately coincide with .DELTA.RMi which is RMi,Cd - RMi,control. Compared with previous results, Cd decreased RNa (the resistance to the active Na current) and increased R.SIGMA. (the resistance to the passive ions) but did not alter ENa (the electromotive force of active Na current) in the later stage (15 min or later). Cd seemed to decrease the RNa component at the epidermal side of the skin in the early stage (less than 5 min).

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