31P nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of frog skin.

The intracellular phosphate composition of whole and split frog skins has been studied by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The spectra were similar to those previously recorded from isolated epithelial cells of toad bladder. However, qualitative differences were noted in comparison with spectra from whole toad bladder. The 31P spectra from whole frog skin reflect the intracellular compositions of the epithelial cells, whereas subepithelial elements contribute significantly to the total observed 31P signals from toad bladder. Analyzed at 4 degrees C, the average phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP concentrations of frog skin are of similar magnitude. The ratio of [PCr] to [ATP + ADP] depends on time, tissue oxygen tension, temperature, and extracellular inorganic phosphate concentration. Both this ratio and the short-circuit current (measured in parallel experiments) fell during the course of aerating frog skins in Ringer solution at room temperature. The intracellular inorganic phosphate (Pi) signal was identified. After reduction of extracellular pH, the signal did not shift immediately but subsequently did undergo an acid shift.