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 Rb⁺. 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 onion 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.

Key Words:

• camel erythrocyte
• anion-dependent potassium transport
• asmoregulation
• potassium transport.