Microelectrode studies of the effect of lanthanum on the electrical potential and resistance of outer and inner cell membranes of isolated frog skin

Microelectrodes were used to investigate the effect of 0.5 mM mucosal lanthanum (La3+) on the intracellular potential and the resistance of outer and inner isolated frog skin (Rana esculenta) cell membranes. Under short-circuit conditions, the transapical membrane potential Vsco (mean value = -65.4 +/- 3.2 mV, inside negative) hyperpolarized to -108.7 +/- 2.3 mV in control skins, after addition of the sodium blocker amiloride. Current-voltage curves for the outer and inner membranes were constructed from the amiloride-inhibitable current versus the outer membrane potential Vo or the inner membrane potential Vi. The outer, and to a lesser degree the inner, membrane showed a characteristic nonlinearity with two slope resistances. Addition of La3+ to the outer medium increased the short-circuit current to 190% of the control value. Vsco concomitantly changed to -28 +/- 3.5 mV and outer and inner membrane resistances fell, considerably attenuating the nonlinearity seen in control skins. La3+ is suggested to raise the conductance by its effect on the surface potential. A secondary long-term inhibitory effect of La3+ on short-circuit current has been observed. It is ascribed to the penetration of La3+ into the sodium channels.     

Microelectrode studies of the effect of lanthanum on the electrical potential and resistance of outer and inner cell membranes of isolated frog skin

Summary Microelectrodes were used to investigate the effect of 0.5mm mucosal lanthanum (La³⁺) on the intracellular potential and the resistance of outer and inner isolated frog skin (Rana esculenta) cell membranes. Under short-circuit conditions, the transapical membrane potentialV _o ^sc (mean value=–65.4±3.2 mV, inside negative) hyperpolarized to –108.7±2.3 mV in control skins, after addition of the sodium blocker amiloride. Current-voltage curves for the outer and inner membranes were constructed from the amiloride-inhibitable current versus the outer membrane potentialV _o or the inner membrane potentialV _t . The outer, and to a lesser degree the inner, membrane showed a characteristic nonlinearity with two slope resistances. Addition of La³⁺ to the outer medium increased the short-circuit current to 190% of the control value.V _o ^sc concomitantly changed to –28±3.5 mV and outer and inner membrane resistances fell, considerably attenuating the nonlinearity seen in control skins. La³⁺ is suggested to raise the conductance by its effect on the surface potential. A secondary long-term inhibitory effect of La³⁺ on short-circuit current has been observed. It is ascribed to the penetration of La³⁺ into the sodium channels.     

Amiloride-sensitive trypsinization of apical sodium channels. Analysis of hormonal regulation of sodium transport in toad bladder

Incubation of the mucosal surface of the toad urinary bladder with trypsin (1 mg/ml) irreversibly decreased the short-circuit current to 50% of the initial value. This decrease was accompanied by a proportionate decrease in apical Na permeability, estimated from the change in amiloride-sensitive resistance in depolarized preparations. In contrast, the paracellular resistance was unaffected by trypsinization. Amiloride, a specific blocker of the apical Na channels, prevented inactivation by trypsin. Inhibition of Na transport by substitution of mucosal Na, however, had no effect on the response to trypsin. Trypsinization of the apical membrane was also used to study regulation of Na transport by anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) and aldosterone. Prior exposure of the apical surface to trypsin did not reduce the response to ADH, which indicates that the ADH-induced Na channels were inaccessible to trypsin before addition of the hormone. On the other hand, stimulation of short-circuit current by aldosterone or pyruvate (added to substrate-depleted, aldosterone-repleted bladders) was substantially reduced by prior trypsinization of the apical surface. Thus, the increase in apical Na permeability elicited by aldosterone or substrate involves activation of Na channels that are continuously present in the apical membrane in nonconductive but trypsin-sensitive forms.     

Influence of lithium upon the intracellular potential of frog skin epithelium.

The effect of Li upon the intracellular potential of frog skin (Rana esculenta) was investigated. In the range between 1 and 25 mM Li in the epithelial bathing solution, a semilogarithmic linear relationship between [Li] and intracellular potential under short circuit conditions was obtained. The intracellular potential at all [Li] is quantitatively sufficient to explain the previously reported accumulation of Li in the intracellular space of the frog skin epithelium (Leblanc, G. 1972. Pfluegers Arch. 337:1) on the basis of a passibe entrance step at the outer border. A reduction of the intracellular potential by Li is also observed in the presence of 6 mM Na in the epithelial bathing solution. Consequences regarding the mechanism of uptake of Na across the outer border of the frog skin are discussed.     

Influence of lithium upon the intracellular potential of frog skin epithelium

Summary The effect of Li upon the intracellular potential of frog skin (Rana esculenta) was investigated. In the range between 1 and 25mm Li in the epithelial bathing solution, a semilogarithmic linear relationship between [Li] and intracellular potential under short circuit conditions was obtained. The intracellular potential at all [Li] is quantitatively sufficient to explain the previously reported accumulation of Li in the intracellular space of the frog skin epithelium (Leblanc, G. 1972.Pfluegers Arch. 337:1) on the basis of a passive entrance step at the outer border. A reduction of the intracellular potential by Li is also observed in the presence of 6mm Na in the epithelial bathing solution. Consequences regarding the mechanism of uptake of Na across the outer border of the frog skin are discussed.     

Ouabain on active transepithelial sodium transport in frog skin: studies with microelectrodes

Studies were done with isolated frog skin to determine the effects of 10(-4) M ouabain on the electrophysiological parameters of outer and inner barriers of the Na-transporting cells. Microelectrodes were used to impale the skins from the outer surface to determine the intracellular voltages (Vsco) under conditions of short-circuiting and under conditions where a voltage clamp was used to vary the transepithelial voltage, VT. From this, the electrical resistances of outer (Rfo) and inner (RI) barriers were estimated. In addition, the driving force for active transepithelial Na transport (ENa = E'1) was estimated from the values of VT when the Vo = 0 mV (Helman and Fisher. 1977. J. Gen. Physiol. 69: 571-604). Studies were done with skins bathed with the usual 2.4 meq/liter [K]i in the inner solution as well as with reduced [K]i of 0.5 and 0 meq/liter. Characteristically, the responses to ouabain could be described by an initial rapid phase (5-10 min) during which time the Ri was increased markedly and the E'1 was decreased from control values. Thereafter, during the slow phases of the response, the resistances of both outer and inner barriers increased continuously and markedly with time leading ultimately to essentially complete inhibition of the short-circuit current. Similar studies were done with skins exposed to 10(-4) M amiloride in the outer solution. Although estimates of Ri could not be obtained under these conditions, the effects on the Vsco and E'1 were similar to those observed for the Na-transporting skins. However, the magnitudes of the effects were less and relatively slower than observed for the Na-transporting skins. The results of these studies were analyzed within the context of a proposed electrical model that takes into account the observation that the magnitude of the voltage at the inner barrier appears to exceed the equilibrium potential for K especially when transepithelial Na transport is inhibited at the apical barrier of the cells.     

Inhibition of potassium conductance by barium in frog skin epithelium.

The effect of Ba2+ (0.5 mM, corial side) upon the transport characteristics of the frog skin epithelium was investigated. It was observed that Ba2+ decreased the conductance of the preferably K+-permeable basolateral border to less than 30% of its control value. Furthermore, Ba2+ abolished the K+ electrode-like behaviour, existing at the basolateral membrane under conditions of zero transcellular current flow, for [K+] below 10--15 mM. Effects upon other parameters of transepithelial transport (electromotive forces and resistance of outer or basolateral border and shunt pathway, respectively) were small and might represent secondary events. It is concluded that Ba2+ inhibits passive fluxes of K+ across basolateral membranes of tight, Na+ transporting epithelia, similar to its influence upon membranes of nonpolar cells.     

Electrochemical potentials in frog skin: inferences for electrical and mechanistic models

To evaluate possible mechanisms of transport at apical and basolateral barriers of Na transporting cells of epithelia, it is necessary to know the difference of electrochemical potentials at each barrier. A reevaluation in light of new data of intracellular voltages of frog skin leads to fundamental questions concerning the origin of the voltages at both inner and outer barriers of this tissue. Whereas the inner barrier is highly selective for K, confirming the observations of Koefoed-Johnsen and Ussing, the voltage across the inner barrier, Vi, especially in the absence of transepithelial Na transport, may be greater than the Nernst equilibrium potential for K estimated from the maximum values of intracellular [K] reported in the literature. Consequently, it is proposed that the Na:K pumps may, under some conditions, behave not only as a Na:K exchange pump but also as a cation extrusion pump for K especially when intracellular [Na] falls to low levels. In order to explain the relationship between Na entry and the voltage at the outer barrier, it is proposed that the conductance of the outer barrier is voltage dependent, in line with previous observations of the nonlinear electrical behavior of the apical barrier of Na transporting cells. Thus, the outer barrier may behave as a simple voltage independent resistor with a Thévenin electromotive force of zero at negative intracellular voltages despite the existence of a chemical potential for Na at this barrier.     

Cellular Li+ opens paracellular path in toad skin: Amiloride blockable effect

The presence of Li in the solution bathing the outer surface of toad skin under short-circuit condition promotes an unspecific permeability increase characterized by a delayed and progressive increase in the effluxes of 24Na, 42K and 14C sucrose. The effect of Li upon sucrose permeability might indicate an increased permeability of the paracellular pathway. The Li effect is mediated by an intracellular action since blockade of Li entrance into the cell compartment by amiloride prevents the increase in Na, K and sucrose permeability. A possible mechanism of this effect is discussed in terms of a disturbance in the cellular Ca++ balance leading to an increase in cytosolic Ca++ concentration which perturbs the organization of the cytoskeleton and the interplay between cytoskeleton and tight junctions.     

Electrical PD,short-circuit current and fluxes of Na and Cl across avian intestine

In vitro measurements were made of transmural potential difference (PD), short-circuit current (Isc), resistance and unidirectional fluxes of 22Na and 36Cl across the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon of normal sodium-replete domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus). The PD ranged from about 1 mV across the duodenum to 8 mV across the colon while the Isc was, respectively, 2.8 and 64 microA X cm-2. The jejunum and ileum exhibited values between these extremes. Unidirectional fluxes (under short-circuit conditions) of Na and Cl were lowest across the duodenum where there was no evidence of active transport of these ions. Unidirectional fluxes of Na and Cl were less across the jejunum than across the ileum or colon. A net active transport of Na (but not Cl) was observed in the ileum (= 106% of the Isc) and colon (= 50% of Isc). The possible physiological significance of these observations in the domestic fowl are discussed and are compared to that of a mammal, the rabbit.     

Microelectrode studies of potential difference responses to changes in stromal K+ in bullfrog cornea

The effects of changing stromal K+ were studied using microelectrodes in an in vitro preparation of frog cornea. The intracellular potential (V0) responded in two opposite ways under short-circuit conditions: (1) depolarization (normal response) when stromal K+ was increased from 4 to 20 or to 79 mM, about 30 mV per 10-fold K+ concn. change; (2) a hyperpolarization (anomalous response) of 10 mV maximum when stromal K+ was increased from 0 to 4 mM. The increase from 4 to 20 or 79 mM decreased or even reversed the short-circuit current (Isc). The transepithelial conductance (gt) increased when K+ was increased to 79 mM but no change occurred in the apical membrane fractional resistance (fRo). Increase of stromal K+ from 0 to 4 mM increased Isc and minimally changed gt and fRo. Ouabain (10(-3) M) abolished the anomalous responses, that is, the increases in V0 and Isc when stromal K+ was increased from 0 to 4 mM. These results are interpreted in terms of two K+ conductive pathways in the basolateral membrane of the corneal epithelium, a Nernstian conductance and an electrogenic (Na+ + K+)-ATPase pump transporting more Na+ than K+ ions per cycle. The normal or anomalous potential difference responses to changes in stromal K+ appear to depend on the relative resistance of the two pathways at the time stromal K+ is changed.     

Effect of oxytocin on the electrical potential and ion permeability of the apical membrane of frog gall bladder epithelial cells

The influence of oxytocin on the intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations, the level of transmembrane potential differences, and on the relative ionic permeability (PNa/PK) of the apical zones of the superficial epithelium membrane was studied in experiments on the isolated frog gallbladder (GB). Oxytocine introduced into the outer incubation solution in a dose of 20 mulliunits/ml caused a reduction of transmembrane potential difference, and an increase of PNa/pk coefficient and an insignificant shift of the Na+ and K+ concentrations in the intracellular medium. Thirty minutes after the oxytocine action of the organ the membrane potential (MP) of the cells decreased from 52.7 mV to 38.7 mV (the cell is negatively charged inside), and PNa/PK increased from 0,083 (control) to 0,175 (test) with a simultaneous increase in the intracellular Na+ concentration by 18.3 milliequiv./kg of (H2O)i. Such a shift in the intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations may cause a decrease of the MP by only--0.7 mV, but actually the membrane potential decreased by--14.0 mV. Thus, the reduction of the transmembrane potential difference results from increase of PNa/PK under the influence of oxytocine. No electrogenic ionic transport through the apical membrane of frog gallbladder epithelial cells was revealed.     

Kinetic asymmetry of renal Na+-L-lactate cotransport. Characteristic parameters and evidence for a ping pong mechanism of the trans-stimulating exchange by pyruvate

Brush border vesicles prepared from horse renal cortex were used to study the kinetic properties of the Na+-L-lactate carrier on the outer and inner faces of the membrane. Two methods were applied for these measurements (in the absence of an electrical gradient): a direct method using influx and efflux kinetics, and an indirect method applied to trans-stimulated influx kinetics using membrane vesicles preloaded with various pyruvate concentrations (the latter enabled us to observe simultaneously the inner and outer carrier properties). Kinetic parameters obtained by the first method have shown that under sodium lactate chemical gradient, the carrier efficiency (estimated by the ratio of k = Vm/Km) is higher for the influx than efflux, a mechanism indicating a kinetic asymmetry of the transport. This difference remains at chemical equilibrium of solute concentration. The similarity of outer and inner affinity of sodium permits one to conclude that the kinetic asymmetry of the sodium lactate transport is related to the lactate-carrier interaction and not to that of the sodium-carrier. The second method using the pyruvate trans-activation effect (under sodium chemical equilibrium) has shown an affinity of lactate (Kt(out) = 1.1 mM), about 15 times higher for the carrier in the extracellular orientation than that of pyruvate for the carrier in the intracellular orientation (Kt(pyr) = 36 mM). This method has demonstrated a ping pong mechanism for the trans-activation exchange which accounts for a selective pore carrier model like a gated channel. These asymmetric properties are related to the AS glide sequential model (A and S being Na+ and lactate, respectively) proposed previously for the Na-L-lactate cotransport and to a different accessibility of the organic solute but not of the sodium on the two membrane faces.     

Effects of cadmium on Na+ transport in the isolated skin of the toad Pleurodema thaul

Cadmium ions applied to either (outer or inner) surface of the isolated toad skin dose-dependently increased the short-circuit current (SCC), the potential difference (V) and the active sodium conductance (G(Na)) in the concentration range 0.07-0.50mM. Maximal stimulatory effect was over 30% with an EC(50) of about 0.1mM. The effect of the highest concentration used (0.75mM) decreased considerably, and when it was applied to the inner surface (10 experiments), induced between 30% and 40% inhibition of the electric parameters in four experiments. Pretreatment with amiloride inverted the stimulatory effect of externally applied Cd(2+), suggesting competitive action on the apical Na(+) channel. The effect of noradrenaline (NA) was increased after outer application of Cd(2+) and decreased after inner application of the metal: the latter effect might be due to cadmium inhibition of the activity of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. On the other hand, pretreatment with amiloride was followed by partial although transient reversal of its effects by serosal Cd(2+), which might be explained by action of cadmium on cytoplasmic lysine residues concerned with Na(+) channel gating. The amiloride test showed that the increment of the electric parameters was due principally to stimulation of the driving potential for Na(+) (V-E(Na(+))) and that inhibition was accompanied by a reduction in the V-E(Na(+)) and by a significant decrease in skin resistance indicating possible disruption of membrane or cell integrity. These data are in favor of the possibility that externally applied Cd(2+) activates toad skin ion transport, partly by increasing apical sodium conductance and also by stimulating the V-E(Na(+)), and that internally applied Cd(2+), with easier access to membrane and cellular constituents, may inhibit the sodium pump.     

Bioelectric properties and ion flow across excised human bronchi

Bioelectric properties and ion transport of excised human segmental/subsegmental bronchi were measured in specimens from 40 patients. Transepithelial electric potential difference (PD), short-circuit current (Isc), and conductance (G), averaged 5.8 mV (lumen negative), 51 microA X cm-2, and 9 mS X cm-2, respectively. Na+ was absorbed from lumen to interstitium under open- and short-circuit conditions. Cl- flows were symmetrical under short-circuit conditions. Isc was abolished by 10(-4) M ouabain. Amiloride inhibited Isc (the concentration necessary to achieve 50% of the maximal effect = 7 X 10(-7) M) and abolished net Na+ transport. PD and Isc were not reduced to zero by amiloride because a net Cl- secretion was induced that reflected a reduction in Cl- flow in the absorptive direction (Jm----sCl-). Acetylcholine (10(-4) M) induced an electrically silent, matched flow of Na+ (1.7 mueq X cm-1 X h-1) and Cl- (1.9 mueq X cm-12 X h-1) toward the lumen. This response was blocked by atropine. Phenylephrine (10(-5) M) did not affect bioelectric properties or unidirectional ion flows, whereas isoproterenol (10(-5) M) induced a small increase in Isc (10%) without changing net ion flows significantly. We conclude that 1) Na+ absorption is the major active ion transport across excised human bronchi, 2) Na+ absorption is both amiloride and ouabain sensitive, 3) Cl- secretion can be induced by inhibition of the entry of luminal Na+ into the epithelia, and 4) cholinergic more than adrenergic agents modulate basal ion flow, probably by affecting gland output.     

Effects of membrane surface charge and calcium on the gating of rat brain sodium channels in planar bilayers [published erratum appears in J Gen Physiol 1989 Apr;93(4):following 760]

The voltage-dependent gating of single, batrachotoxin-activated Na channels from rat brain was studied in planar lipid bilayers composed of negatively charged or neutral phospholipids. The relationship between the probability of finding the Na channel in the open state and the membrane potential (Po vs. Vm) was determined in symmetrical NaCl, both in the absence of free Ca2+ and after the addition of Ca2+ to the extracellular side of the channel, the intracellular side, or both. In the absence of Ca2+, neither the midpoint (V0.5) of the Po vs. Vm relation, nor the steepness of the gating curve, was affected by the charge on the bilayer lipid. The addition of 7.5 mM Ca2+ to the external side caused a depolarizing shift in V0.5. This depolarizing shift was approximately 17 mV in neutral bilayers and approximately 25 mV in negatively charged bilayers. The addition of the same concentration of Ca2+ to only the intracellular side caused hyperpolarizing shifts in V0.5 of approximately 7 mV (neutral bilayers) and approximately 14 mV (negatively charged bilayers). The symmetrical addition of Ca2+ caused a small depolarizing shift in Po vs. Vm. We conclude that: (a) the Na channel protein possesses negatively charged groups on both its inner and outer surfaces. Charges on both surfaces affect channel gating but those on the outer surface exert a stronger influence. (b) Negative surface charges on the membrane phospholipid are close enough to the channel's gating machinery to substantially affect its operation. Charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the membrane lipid affect gating symmetrically. (c) Effects on steady-state Na channel activation are consistent with a simple superposition of contributions to the local electrostatic potential from charges on the channel protein and the membrane lipid.     

Microelectrode studies of the active Na transport pathway of frog skin

When the outer surface of short-circuited frog skin was penetrated with microelectrodes, stable negative potentials that averaged near -100 mV were recorded consistently, confirming the results of Nagel (W. Nagel. 1975. Abstracts of the 5th International Biophysics Congress, Copenhagen. P-147.). The appearance of these stable potentials, V(O), concurrent with the observations that (a) a high resistance outer barrier R(O) accounting for approximately 75 percent or more of the transcellular resistance of control skins had been penetrated and that (b) 10(-5) M amiloride and reduced [Na] outside caused the values of V(O) to increase towards means value near -130 mV while the values of percent R(O) increased to more than 90 percent. It was of relationships were the same as the values of E(1) observed in studies of the current-voltage relationships were the same as the values of E’(1) defined as the values of voltage at the inner barrier when the V(O) of the outer barrier was reduced to zero by voltage clamping of the skins. Accordingly, these data are interpreted to mean that the values of E(1), approximately 130 mV, represent the E(Na) of the sodium pump at the inner barrier. 2,4-DNP was observed to decrease the values of transepithelial voltage less than E(1) the V(O) was negative. These data can be interpreted with a simple electrical equivalent circuit of the active sodium transport pathway of the frog skin that includes the idea that the outer membrane behaves as an electrical rectifier for ion transport.     

Intracellular gradients of ion activities in the epithelial cells of theNecturus gallbladder recorded with ion-selective microelectrodes

In Necturus gallbladder epithelial cells the intracellular electrical potential, as recorded with microelectrodes, varied from -28 mV in the mucosal end to about -50 mV in the serosal end of the transporting cell. The Na+ activity varied concurrently from about 39 mM to between 8 and 19 mM. Thus, within the cell both the recorded electrical and chemical gradients caused Na+ to move towards the serosal end. Serosal addition of ouabain (5 X 10(-4) M) caused the intracellular Na+ activity to attain electrochemical equilibrium within 30 min. However, the intracellular electrical potential gradient was only slowly affected. In cells from animals stored at 5 degrees C, the Cl- activity varied from about 55 mM in the mucosal end to 28 mM in the serosal end, and the K+ activity from 50 mM to between 95 and 131 mM. Both ions were close to electrochemical equilibrium within the cytoplasm but were too concentrated to be in equilibrium with the mucosal solution. Bubbling CO2 through the mucosal solution caused the intracellular gradients to vanish. When Na+ in the bathing solutions was exchanged for K+, the intracellular electrical potential became roughly constant at about -5 mV. The Cl- activity became constant in 65 mM, and the K+ activity became constant at 109 mM, both close to equilibrium with the mucosal solution. The Na+ activity was reduced to about 1 mM. The ratio of cytoplasmic resistivities between cells bathed in K+-rich saline to cells bathed in Na+-rich saline was measured by means of triple-barreled electrodes and compared to the same ratio as assessed from the activity measurements. The two values were equal only if one assumes the mobility of Na+ inside the cell to be less than 1/10 of the mobility of K+ or Cl-. The same conclusion was reached by comparing the intracellular Na+ flux calculated from the gradient of electrochemical potential to that flux assess from the net solute absorption. Animals kept at 15 degrees C had lower intracellular Na+ activities, higher Cl- and K+ activities, and higher rates of absorption than animals stored at 5 degrees C. Finally, the degree to which the intracellularly recorded electrical and chemical potentials could reflect an electrode artefact is discussed.     

Effects of Pb<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions on Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> transport in the isolated skin of the toad <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurodema thaul</Emphasis>

The effects induced by lead ions on the short-circuit current (SCC) and on the potential difference (V) of the toad Pleurodema thaul skin were investigated. Pb²⁺ applied to the outer (mucosal) surface increased SCC and V and when applied to the inner (serosal) surface decreased both parameters. The stimulatory effect, but not the inhibitory action, was reversible after washout of the metal ion. The amiloride test showed that the increase was due principally to stimulation of the driving potential for Na⁺ (V-E_Na+) and that inhibition was accompanied by a reduction in the V-E_Na+ and also by a significant decrease in skin resistance indicating possible disruption of membrane and/or cell integrity. The effect of noradrenaline was increased by outer and decreased by inner administration of Pb²⁺. The results suggest that mucosal Pb²⁺ activates toad skin ion transport by stimulating the V-E_Na+ and that serosal Pb²⁺, with easier access to membrane and cellular constituents, inactivates this mechanism, revealing greater toxicity when applied to the inner surface of the skin. Abbreviations: SCC – short-circuit current; V – potential difference; V-E_Na+– driving potential for Na⁺; ENaC – epithelial sodium channel; R_Na+– active sodium resistance; RS – passive or shunt resistance; G_Na– active sodium conductance; GS – passive or shunt conductance; Gmax – total conductance; EC₅₀– half-maximal excitatory concentration; IC₅₀– half maximal inhibitory concentration; NA – noradrenaline.     

Na transport across frog skin at low external Na concentrations

Isolated frog skin was bathed with a dilute solution containing 1 mm NaCl on the outside and with normal Ringer’s solution on the inner surface. Net Na flux was determined by simultaneous measurement of unidirectional fluxes with Na²² and Na²⁴ and intracellular electrical potentials were examined with microelectrodes. There was a net inward transport of Na under both open-circuit and short-circuit conditions. The short-circuit current was approximately 15% greater than the net Na flux; the discrepancy could be accounted for by a small outward flux of Cl. The electrical potential profile did not differ greatly from that observed in skins bathed on the outside with normal Ringer’s solution. Under open-circuit conditions, there were usually several potential steps and under short-circuit conditions the cells were negative relative to the bathing solutions. Estimates of epithelial Na concentrations utilizing radioactive Na suggested that if all epithelial Na were in a single compartment, an active entry step would be necessary to allow a net inward Na transport. The results could also be explained by a series arrangement of Na compartments without necessarily postulating an active Na entry. The behavior of the potential profile suggested that this latter alternative was more likely.