Influence of the intracellular and extracellular cation concentration on monovalent cation efflux of resealed human erythrocyte ghosts.

Tracer efflux measurements (86Rb+ and 22Na+) were performed on resealed human erythrocyte ghosts at different intra- and extracellular NaCl concentrations. Using a modified Goldman equation the observed alterations of the rate constants could be explained by taking into account the transmembrane and surface potentials, at constant permeability coefficient. These results emphasize the importance of membrane surface potentials in triggering ion transport across biological membranes.