Potassium activity and plasma membrane potentials in epithelial cells of toad bladder.

Intracellular potassium activity (aki), mucosal and serosal membrane potential (mEm, sEm), short-circuit current (Isc), and transepithelial potential difference in the epithelium of the toad bladder were measured with a potassium-sensitive liquid ion exchanger and an ordinary microelectrode. Under basal conditions, aki was 41.2 +/- 0.5 mM, corresponding to 54.4 mM in free potassium concentration, so half or more of the intracellular potassium may be of bound form or sequestrated within subcellular organelles. The sEm cannot be explained by only the potassium equilibrium potential (Eeq), because the sEm was markedly lower than the Eeq and no relation was found between them. Ouabain and rotenone decreased the aki, but ethacrynic acid, which also inhibited the Isc and the membrane potentials, did not show any effect on aki. Vasopressin decreased aki with an elevation in mEm, whereas prostaglandin E1 increased the aki with elevation in the sEm. These characteristic changes may afford an insight into the mechanisms by which transcellular electrolyte transport occurs.