Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白和植物耐盐性

Na⁺H⁺逆向转运蛋白对植物耐盐起着重要作用 ,它利用质膜H⁺ATPase或液泡膜H⁺ATPase及Ppiase泵H+产生的驱动力把Na⁺排出细胞或在液泡中区隔化以消除Na⁺的毒害。主要讨论植物中Na⁺H⁺逆向转运蛋白研究在分子水平的最新进展.     

短期NaCl胁迫对不同小麦品种幼苗K+吸收和Na+、K+积累的影响

为研究盐胁迫下小麦幼苗生长及Na⁺、K⁺的吸收和积累规律,以中国春、洲元9369和长武134等3种耐盐性不同小麦品种为材料,采用非损伤微测技术检测盐胁迫2 d后的根系K⁺离子流变化,并对植株体内的Na⁺、K⁺含量进行测定。结果表明:短期(2d)盐胁迫对小麦生长有抑制作用,且对根系的抑制大于地上部,耐盐品种下降幅度小于盐敏感品种。盐胁迫下,小麦根际的 K⁺大量外流,盐敏感品种中国春K⁺流速显著高于耐盐品种长武134,最高可达15倍。小麦幼苗地上部分和根系均表现为Na⁺积累增加,K⁺积累减少,Na⁺/K⁺比随盐浓度增加而上升。中国春限Na⁺能力显著低于长武134,Na⁺/K⁺则显著高于长武134。综上所述,盐胁迫下造成小麦组织器官中Na⁺/K⁺比上升的主要原因是根系K⁺大量外流和Na⁺的过量积累,耐盐性不同的小麦品种间差异显著,并认为根系对K⁺的保有能力可能是作物耐盐性评价的一个重要指标。     

大鼠前脂细胞质膜Na+/H+交换同时参与细胞的增殖和分化

以原代培养的大鼠前脂细胞为模型 ,以 2′ ,7′ bis ( 2 carboxyethyl) 5 ( 6 ) carboxyfluorescein (BCECF)作为检测胞内pH(pHi)的荧光探针 ,测定不同生长因子刺激下胞内pH的变化 ,证明大鼠肾周前脂细胞质膜存在Na⁺/H⁺交换活性 ,胎牛血清(FCS)能快速激活Na⁺/H⁺交换 ,导致pHi升高 (约 0 .2pH单位 ) ,并引起DNA合成 .Ethyl isopropyl amiloride (EIPA)抑制Na⁺/H⁺交换与DNA合成 .在无血清条件下 ,胰岛素不刺激DNA合成但引起细胞分化 ,表现为胞内脂滴积累和 3 磷酸 甘油脱氢酶(G₃ PDH酶 )活性增强 ,同时激活Na⁺/H⁺交换活性导致pHi升高 ;EIPA既抑制胰岛素对Na⁺/H⁺交换的激活 ,也抑制G₃ PDH酶活性增强 .结果证明 :Na⁺/H⁺交换的激活不仅与大鼠前脂细胞增殖相关 ,同时也是细胞分化的早期事件 .     

西伯利亚白刺质膜Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白基因NsSOS1的分离及表达分析

采用同源克隆技术分离了西伯利亚白刺(Nitraria sibirica)质膜Na~+/H~+逆向转运蛋白基因NsSOS1,并对其在不同胁迫条件下的表达特性进行了分析。NsSOS1包含3 516bp开放阅读框(ORF),编码1 171个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为128.34kD。生物信息学分析显示,NsSOS1包含12个跨膜结构域,具有植物SOS1蛋白的保守结构域。系统发育分析表明,NsSOS1与其他植物质膜Na~+/H~+逆向转运蛋白处于同一个次级分化群,与锦葵科海滨锦葵KvSOS1亲缘关系较近。实时荧光定量RT-PCR分析显示,NsSOS1基因在西伯利亚白刺的根和叶中表达量较高;其表达受到非生物胁迫(NaCl、低温、干旱)和外源激素(MeJA和GA)的诱导,表明NsSOS1基因在西伯利亚白刺抵御逆境胁迫过程中发挥重要作用。     

抗VacA+CagA+幽门螺杆菌IgY的抗感染作用研究*

为研究抗VacA⁺CagA⁺幽门螺杆菌(Hp)IgY的抗感染作用,以VacA⁺CagA+Hp为抗原免疫蛋鸡,聚乙二醇法和水稀释法从鸡卵黄中提取抗-VacA⁺CagA⁺Hp-IgY,酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)测定IgY抗体效价。建立胃腔感染VacA⁺CagAHp的昆明系小鼠模型,观察抗-VacA⁺CagA⁺     

长叶红砂液泡膜Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白基因的克隆及表达特性

为研究长叶红砂(Reaumuria trigyna)离子转运分子机制,利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,克隆到其液泡膜Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白基因(NHX1)的全长cDNA片段,命名为RtNHX1(NCBI序列号为KR919802)。结果表明:RtNHX1的cDNA片段全长2 622bp,开放阅读框1 662bp,5′非编码区509bp,3′非编码区451bp,编码553个氨基酸,推测分子量为60.91kD。该蛋白含有12个跨膜结构域,为疏水蛋白,与其他植物液泡膜Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白NHX1的亲缘关系较近。实时荧光定量PCR对其在NaCl胁迫下的表达检测显示,不同时间和不同浓度NaCl胁迫下,RtNHX1表达量变化均呈先升高后降低趋势,在100mmol/L NaCl胁迫6h和200mmol/L NaCl胁迫后达到最高,表达量分别超过或约是对照的3倍,一定程度反应出RtNHX1参与长叶红砂的盐胁迫应答,是该植物离子转运体系的重要元件。     

莳萝蒿适应盐渍环境的Na+区域化方式和生理特征

莳萝蒿是广泛分布在我国北方的一种特殊类型的菊科盐生植物,阐明莳萝蒿特殊的耐盐机制和生理特征有助于丰富植物抗盐性研究的内容。用0、100、200、300、400 mmol/L Na Cl处理莳萝蒿7 d后,比较莳萝蒿盐处理植株与对照植株在生长和生理方面的差异,并详细分析了Na+在莳萝蒿体内的积累水平和区域化方式。结果显示:莳萝蒿虽然能够耐受400 mmol/L Na Cl,但盐处理显著抑制了莳萝蒿的生长,整株鲜重随着盐处理浓度的升高逐渐减小。在水分生理方面,随着盐处理浓度的升高,莳萝蒿叶片细胞的渗透调节能力逐渐增强,其叶片肉质化程度却呈逐渐降低的趋势。分析盐处理对光合作用的影响发现,盐处理后莳萝蒿叶片光合速率与气孔导度显著下降,而其PSⅡ光化学活性并未受到抑制,叶绿素含量甚至逐渐增大,说明盐处理后莳萝蒿叶片光合速率的降低主要是由于气孔因素造成的,而不是由于光合结构被破坏。莳萝蒿体内的Na+含量随着盐处理浓度的升高显著增加,400 mmol/L Na Cl条件下叶、茎、根中的Na+含量分别高达321.4、242.1和182.3μmol/g鲜重;莳萝蒿体内的Na+70%以上积累在叶片内,而叶片内98%左右的Na+积累在叶片原生质体中,叶片原生质体中的Na+平均浓度是质外体1.2—1.8倍,推测其叶片细胞内存在着有效的Na+区域化机制。盐处理后莳萝蒿叶片液泡膜V-H+-ATPase的质子泵活性比对照增加了30%—50%,液泡膜Na+/H+逆向转运活性则增加至对照的4—7倍,进一步证实莳萝蒿叶片具有较强的液泡Na+区域化能力。随着盐处理浓度的升高,Na+在叶片中的分布比例相对减少,V-H+-ATPase的质子泵活性和Na+/H+逆向转运活性增幅也减缓。这种Na+区域化能力使莳萝蒿获得了较强的耐盐性,有效保护了其光系统,降低了细胞汁液渗透势。但是盐处理后这种耐盐方式并不能阻止莳萝蒿叶片肉质化程度和光合活性下降,莳萝蒿生长仍然受盐抑制,说明Na+区域化是莳萝蒿适应盐渍环境的必要条件而非充分条件。     

不同季节荷斯坦牛3个微卫星座位与GSH-Px、SOD和Na+/K+-ATP酶活性及日产奶量的关系

选择分别与谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶基因紧密连锁的3个微卫星座位BMS2258、SOD1和BM723, 采用PCR及非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析其在130头荷斯坦牛中的遗传变异, 计算了3个微卫星座位的多态信息含量、有效等位基因数和遗传杂合度, 并利用最小二乘法拟合线性模型初步探索了它们与荷斯坦牛夏、秋季GSH-Px、SOD、Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活性及日产奶量的关系。结果表明, 3个微卫星座位与其紧密连锁基因的酶活性及日产奶量均存在显著相关(P<0.05)。BMS2258座位182 bp/164 bp的GSH-Px活性和日产奶量对应的最小二乘均值较高; SOD1座位148 bp/146 bp对应的SOD活性的最小二乘均值较高, 148 bp/148 bp对应的日产奶量最小二乘均值较高; BMS2258座位161 bp/111 bp对应的Na⁺/K⁺-ATP酶活性和日产奶量的最小二乘均值较高, 它们是各自座位上的最有利基因型。     

应用15N示踪研究欧美杨对PM2.5无机成分NH4+和NO3-的吸收与分配

通过气溶胶发生系统模拟PM2.5颗粒的发生,运用15N示踪技术研究了欧美杨107(Populus euramericana Neva.)对PM2.5中水溶性无机成分NH+4和NO-3的吸收与分配规律。结果表明,欧美杨能够有效吸收PM2.5中的NH+4和NO-3。轻度和重度污染下,欧美杨叶片对NH+4和NO-3的吸收速率均于处理后第1天达到峰值,之后,轻度污染下对NH+4和NO-3的吸收速率迅速降低以后趋于稳定,而重度污染下对NH+4和NO-3的吸收速率缓慢下降至趋于稳定。轻度污染下的欧美杨叶片的15N含量在处理后第1天达到峰值,15N(NH+4)的含量为0.11 mg/g,干重,15N(NO-3)的为0.14 mg/g,干重,之后15N含量迅速下降至趋于稳定。重度污染下的叶片15N含量在处理第1天迅速增长,之后缓慢增长至处理后第7天达到最高值,15N(NH+4)的含量为0.11 mg/g,干重,15N(NO-3)的为0.13 mg/g,干重。处理7 d后,欧美杨不同组织器官吸收或通过再分配获取的15N含量存在差异。轻度污染下,细根对NH+4和NO-3的吸收量最高,树皮、叶柄、叶片次之,髓最低。而重度污染下,叶片对NH+4和NO-3的吸收量最高,细根、叶柄、树皮次之,髓最低。欧美杨各组织器官中NH+4和NO-3的含量均表现为重度污染大于轻度污染,且两种污染程度下的欧美杨各组织器官对NO-3的吸收均大于对NH+4的吸收。重度污染下,欧美杨茎木质部对15N(NH+4和NO-3)的吸收征调能力(Ndff,Nitrogen derived from fertilizer)最大,其次为髓,叶片最小;欧美杨各组织器官中的15N分配率表现为叶片细根叶柄树皮粗根茎木质部髓。研究结果对进一步揭示植物吸收PM2.5的机制及有效利用植物降低颗粒物污染、净化环境提供了重要的科学理论依据。     

稀土La3+跨PC12细胞膜行为研究

使用AR-CM-M1C阳离子测定系统,发展Fura-2荧光测定技术,将其应用于测定细胞内游离稀土离子La³⁺,并以此研究了La³⁺跨PC12细胞（大鼠嗜铬细胞瘤细胞）膜的行为.结果表明：在模拟细胞内离子组分,pH=7.05的溶液中,测得La³⁺-Fura-2的表观解离常数为3.27×10^-11 mol·L^-1.对于PC12细胞,静息条件下La³⁺不能跨越细胞膜进入胞内.与钙离子通道相关的KCl和去甲肾上腺素均不能刺激稀土La³⁺过膜.用哇巴因（ouabain）使胞内Na⁺超载后,La³⁺可过膜进入细胞内,且过膜量与胞外La³⁺浓度和胞内Na⁺超载程度有一定的浓度依赖关系,提示La³⁺可以经由Na⁺／La³⁺交换机制过膜而进入细胞内.     

The sodium cycle: A novel type of bacterial energetics

The progress of bioenergetic studies on the role of Na⁺ in bacteria is reviewed. Experiments performed over the past decade on several bacterial species of quite different taxonomic positions show that Na⁺ can, under certain conditions, substitute for H⁺ as the coupling ion. Various primary Na⁺ pumps ( generators) are described, i.e., Na⁺-motive decarboxylases, NADH-quinone reductase, terminal oxidase, and ATPase. The formed is shown to be consumed by Na⁺ driven ATP-synthase, Na⁺ flagellar motor, numerous Na⁺, solute symporters, and the methanogenesis-linked reverse electron transfer system. InVibrio alginolyticus, it was found that , generated by NADH-quinone reductase, can be utilized to support all three types of membrane-linked work, i.e., chemical (ATP synthesis), osmotic (Na⁺, solute symports), and mechanical (rotation of the flagellum). InPropionigenum modestum, circulation of Na⁺ proved to be the only mechanism of energy coupling. In other species studied, the Na⁺ cycle seems to coexist with the H⁺ cycle. For instance, inV. alginolyticus the initial and terminal steps of the respiratory chain are Na⁺ - and H⁺-motive, respectively, whereas ATP hydrolysis is competent in the uphill transfer of Na⁺ as well as of H⁺. In the alkalo- and halotolerantBacillus FTU, there are H⁺ - and Na⁺-motive terminal oxidases. Sometimes, the Na⁺-translocating enzyme strongly differs from its H⁺-translocating homolog. So, the Na⁺-motive and H⁺-motive NADH-quinone reductases are composed of different subunits and prosthetic groups. The H⁺-motive and Na⁺-motive terminal oxidases differ in that the former is ofaa ₃-type and sensitive to micromolar cyanide whereas the latter is of another type and sensitive to millimolar cyanide. At the same time, both Na⁺ and H⁺ can be translocated by one and the sameP. modestum ATPase which is of the F₀F₁-type and sensitive to DCCD. The sodium cycle, i.e., a system composed of primary generator(s) and consumer(s), is already described in many species of marine aerobic and anaerobic eubacteria and archaebacteria belonging to the following genera:Vibrio, Bacillus, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Propionigenum, Clostridium, Veilonella, Acidaminococcus, Streptococcus, Peptococcus, Exiguobacterium, Fusobacterium, Methanobacterium, Methanococcus, Methanosarcin, etc. Thus, the sodium world seems to occupy a rather extensive area in the biosphere.     

干热河谷乡土树种叶绿素荧光特征对水分胁迫的响应

以干热河谷地区典型乡土树种清香木为试验材料,采用快速植物效率分析仪(PEA),对土壤相对含水量为50%(C_1)、30%(C_2)、20%(C_3)、10%(C_4)、5%(C_5)5种处理下清香木的光系统Ⅱ快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学参数进行测定,探讨清香木快速叶绿素荧光诱导曲线在不同水分处理下的变化机制。结果表明:(1)清香木经水分胁迫处理后,放氧复合体受到了不同程度的损害,光合电子传递链中Q_A~-大量积累,电子传递能力和量子产额逐渐降低。(2)随着土壤相对含水量的逐渐降低,清香木ABS/CS、TR_o/CS、RC/CS、DI_o/CS均在C_3处理下降到了最低值,而此时ABS/RC、ET_o/RC、DI_o/RC、M_o均达到最大值,V_j在C_2处理下达到了最大值,而此时Ψ_o、ΨE_o、ET_o/CS均降至最低值,ET_o/RC却一直增加。(3)清香木光合性能指数PI_(ABS)对水分胁迫的敏感性比F_v/F_m(φp_o)更强。研究认为,清香木在30%土壤水分处理下已经启动了相应的自我防御机制,质体醌Q_A被还原的速率均减慢,电子在传递过程中受阻;在20%土壤水分处理下天线系统发生了一定程度的降解或者损坏,导致光能的吸收降低,同时将过多的激发能及时散失,减少了活性氧对反应中心造成的伤害;在10%土壤水分处理下,清香木的自我防御机制得以解除,光合作用效率进一步提高。说明清香木的生理状况在水分过多或者过少条件下都会受到明显影响,其健康生长的理论土壤相对含水量应保持在10%左右,清香木能够适应干旱的环境。     

The effects of amiloride on electrolyte transport and acid-base balance in the larval salamander,Ambystoma tigrinum

Summary The responses of net and unidirectional fluxes of Na⁺ and acid-base balance to the drug amiloride were assessed during normocapnia and hypercapnia in larval salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum. Isotope flux measurements demonstrated that 10^-4 M amiloride in the external medium inhibits Na⁺ influx during normocapnia and reverses the usual increase in influx of this ion during hypercapnia, causing a significant decrease instead. Measurements of blood-gas/acid-base balance conditions of artcrially cannulated salamanders demonstrated a significant metabolic acidosis in amiloridetreated animals that did not occur in untreated animals over the same period. the same concentration of amiloride also blocked the normal compensatory increase in [HCO _- ³ ] that follows a respiratory acidosis produced by a hypercapnic environment.Abbreviations IU international nnits - J _in influx - J _net net flux - PCO ₂ parial pressure of carbon dioxide     

The interaction between calcium and the activation of Na+, K+-ATPase by noradrenaline

Summary The interaction of noradrenaline, various cation chelators and calcium on Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase from rat cerebral cortex plasma membranes was studied. It was shown that chelation of inhibitory cations by EGTA, EDTA and dipyridyl activated Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase to the same extent as noradrenaline but at higher concentrations; increasing concentrations of EGTA depressed the activation by noradrenaline; calcium in the form of a calcium-EGTA buffer depressed Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase at physiological concentrations; the inhibition of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase by calcium is dependent on the magnesium concentration in the assay and the inhibition by calcium was partially reversed by noradrenaline.     

Intracellular calcium content of human erythrocytes: Relation to sodium transport systems

Summary To study the possible role of intracellular Ca (Ca _i ) in controlling the activities of the Na⁺–K⁺ pump, the Na⁺–K⁺ cotransport and the Na⁺/Li⁺ exchange system of human erythrocytes, a method was developed to measure the amount of Ca embodied within the red cell. For complete removal of Ca associated with the outer aspect of the membrane, it proved to be essential to wash the cells in buffers containing less than 20nm Ca. Ca was extracted by HClO₄ in Teflon^® vessels boiled in acid to avoid Ca contaminations and quantitated by flameless atomic absorption. Ca _i of fresh human erythrocytes of apparently healthy donors ranged between 0.9 and 2.8 mol/liter cells. The mean value found in females was significantly higher than in males. The interindividual different Ca contents remained constant over periods of more than one year. Sixty to 90% of Ca _i could be removed by incubation of the cells with A23187 and EGTA. The activities of the Na⁺–K⁺ pump, of Na⁺–K⁺ cotransport and Na⁺/Li⁺ exchange and the mean cellular hemoglobin content fell with rising Ca _i ; the red cell Na⁺ and K⁺ contents rose with Ca _i . Ca depletion by A23187 plus EGTA as well as chelation of intracellular Ca²⁺ by quin-2 did not significantly enhance the transport rates. It is concluded that the large scatter of the values of Ca _i of normal human erythrocytes reported in the literature mainly results from a widely differing removal of Ca associated with the outer aspect of the membrane.     

Sodium ATPase and Sodium/proton Antiporter Are Not Obligatory for Sodium Homeostasis of Enterococcus hirae at Acid pH

Enterococcus hirae grows in a broad pH range from 5 to 11. An E. hirae mutant 7683 lacking the activities of two sodium pumps, Na⁺-ATPase and Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter, does not grow in high Na⁺ medium at pH above 7.5. We found that 7683 grew normally in high Na⁺ medium at pH 5.5. Although an energy-dependent sodium extrusion at pH 5.5 was missing, the intracellular levels of Na⁺ and K⁺ were normal in this mutant. The Na⁺ influx rates of 7683 and two other strains at pH 5.5 were much slower than those at pH 7.5. These results suggest that Na⁺ elimination of this bacterium at acid pH is achieved by a decrease in Na⁺ entry and a normal K⁺ uptake.     

Cationic interactions with Na+-H+ exchange and passive Na+ flux in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles

Na⁺-H⁺ exchange and passive Na⁺ flux were investigated in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles as a function of changing the ionic composition of the reaction media. The inclusion of EGTA in the reaction medium resulted in a potent stumulation of Na⁺ uptake by Na⁺-H⁺ exchange. It was found that millimolar concentrations of Mg²⁺ and Li⁺ were capable of inhibiting Na⁺-H⁺ exchange by 80%. One mechanism by which these ions may inhibit intravesicular Na⁺ accumulation by Na⁺-H⁺ exchange is via an increase in Na⁺ efflux. An examination of Na⁺ efflux kinetics from vesicles pre-loaded with Na⁺ revealed that Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Li⁺ could stimulate Na⁺ efflux. Na⁺-H⁺ exchange was potently inhibited by an organic divalent cation, dimenthonium, which screens membrane surface charge. This would suggest that Na⁺-H⁺ exchange occurs in the diffuse double layer region of cardiac sarcolemma and this phenomenon is distinctly different from other Na⁺ transport processes. The results in this study indicate that in addition to a stimulation of Na⁺ efflux, the inhibitory effects of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Li⁺ on Na⁺-H⁺ exchange may also involve a charge dependent screening of Na⁺ interactions with the membrane.     

Effect of ethylisopropyl amiloride,a Na+-H+ exchange inhibitor,on cardioprotective effect of ischaemic and angiotensin preconditioning

The present study is designed to investigate the role of Na⁺-H⁺ exchanger in the cardioprotective effect of ischaemic and angiotensin (Ang II) preconditioning. Isolated perfused rat heart was subjected to global ischaemia for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 120 min. Coronary effluent was analysed for LDH and CK release to assess the degree of cardiac injury. Myocardial infarct size was estimated macroscopically using TTC staining. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and dp/dt were recorded to evaluate myocardial contractility. Four episodes of ischaemic or Ang II preconditioning markedly reduced LDH and CK release in coronary effluent and decreased myocardial infarct size. 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA), a Na⁺-H⁺ exchange inhibitor, produced no marked effect on ischaemic preconditioning and Ang II preconditioning induced cardioprotection. On the other hand, EIPA administration prior to global ischaemia produced a similar reduction in myocardial injury as was noted with ischaemic preconditioning or Ang II preconditioning. On the basis of these results, it may be concluded that inhibition of Na⁺-H⁺ exchanger protects against ischaemia-reperfusion induced myocardial injury whereas activation of Na⁺-H⁺ exchanger may not mediate the cardioprotective effect of ischaemic and Ang II preconditioning.     

Role of Intracellular pH in Proliferation, Transformation, and Apoptosis

Both cellular proliferation and apoptosis (programmed cell death) have been claimed to be modulated, perhaps even triggered by, changes in intracellular pH. In this review, we summarize the evidence that gave rise to these hypotheses. To facilitate a critical appraisal of the existing data, we briefly review the main pathways involved in cytosolic pH homeostasis and their regulation by mitogens and by apoptosis-inducing agents. The information available at present suggests that cytosolic pH plays a permissive role in cellular growth and proliferation, but is neither a trigger nor an essential step in the mitogenic signal transduction cascade. Concerning apoptosis, it is clear that lowering the pH in vitro can activate DNase II. However, the evidence linking cytosolic acidification with DNA degradation in vivois presently not convincing. We conclude that the cytosolic pH, an essential physiological parameter that is tightly controlled by multiple, complementary, or redundant systems, is unlikely to play a role in signalling either cell growth or death.     

Role of the furosemide-sensitive Na+/K+ transport system in determining the steady-state Na+ and K+ content and volume of human erythrocytesin vitro andin vivo

Summary To study the physiological role of the bidirectionally operating, furosemide-sensitive Na⁺/K⁺ transport system of human erythrocytes, the effect of furosemide on red cell cation and hemoglobin content was determined in cells incubated for 24 hr with ouabain in 145mm NaCl media containing 0 to 10mm K⁺ or Rb⁺. In pure Na⁺ media, furosemide accelerated cell Na⁺ gain and retarded cellular K⁺ loss. External K⁺ (5mm) had an effect similar to furosemide and markedly reduced the action of the drug on cellular cation content. External Rb⁺ accelerated the Na⁺ gain like K⁺, but did not affect the K⁺ retention induced by furosemide. The data are interpreted to indicate that the furosemide-sensitive Na⁺/K⁺ transport system of human erythrocytes mediates an equimolar extrusion of Na⁺ and K⁺ in Na⁺ media (Na⁺/K⁺ cotransport), a 1:1 K⁺/K⁺ (K⁺/Rb⁺) and Na⁺/Na⁺ exchange progressively appearing upon increasing external K⁺ (Rb⁺) concentrations to 5mm. The effect of furosemide (or external K⁺/Rb⁺) on cation contents was associated with a prevention of the cell shrinkage seen in pure Na⁺ media, or with a cell swelling, indicating that the furosemide-sensitive Na⁺/K⁺ transport system is involved in the control of cell volume of human erythrocytes. The action of furosemide on cellular volume and cation content tended to disappear at 5mm external K⁺ or Rb⁺. Thein vivo red cell K⁺ content was negatively correlated to the rate of furosemide-sensitive K⁺ (Rb⁺) uptake, and a positive correlation was seen between mean cellular hemoglobin content and furosemide-sensitive transport activity. The transport system possibly functions as a K⁺ and waterextruding mechanism under physiological conditiosin vivo. The red cell Na⁺ content showed no correlation to the activity of the furosemide-sensitive transport system.