Activation of the Na pump current by external K and Cs ions in cardioballs from sheep Purkinje fibres.

The Na pump current (Ip) was measured at 30-33 degrees C as a function of the extracellular K+ or Cs+ concentrations ([K]o; [Cs]o) by means of whole cell recording from cardioballs isolated from sheep Purkinje fibres. The results show that the magnitude of Ip is an s-shaped, saturating function of [K]o or [Cs]o, respectively. Half maximal Ip activation occurs at 1.2 mM Ko or 3.2 mM Cso (clamp potential: -20 mV). These values are appreciably lower than earlier measurements on sheep Purkinje fibres indicated. The Hill coefficients for Ip activation by external K+ or Cs+ were calculated to be 1.94 and 1.73, respectively. The numbers suggest that Ip activation requires at least two external activator cations.