Volume-dependent potassium transport in camel red blood cells.

Abstract

In this study the volume-dependent, ouabain-resistant K+ influx and efflux in camel red blood cells were measured with the tracer 86Rb+. The results showed that the camel erythrocytes do not have the Na(+)-K+ cotransport. The cell swelling increases a ouabain-resistant K+ influx and shrinkage decreases it nearly two-fold. The swelling-stimulated K+ influx and efflux were chloride dependent. The anion dependence of K+ influx in swollen cells was as follows: Br- > Cl- > NO3. The pH-dependent curve for swelling-stimulated potassium influx, and the active K+ influx in camel erythrocytes were determined. The findings indicate that camel erythrocytes' potassium transport system has many similarities to other mammalian species.