Na,K-ATPase function and cellular proliferative activity in culture

A study was made of the dependence of ATP hydrolysis intensity upon different ratios of sodium and potassium ions in plasma membrane of L cells and of cells of clone Lebr 625, sensitive and resistant to ethidium bromide, and of the distribution of cells according to cell cycle phases in dense and sparse cultures. In dense cultures, the cell growth is arrested on G1 phase, the hydrolytic activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase decreases, and the Na+, K+ ratio for maximum activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase changes. The higher proliferative activity of Lebr 625 cells in dense culture corresponds to the higher hydrolytic activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.