Active calcium transport in the skin of the frog Rana pipiens: kinetics and seasonal rhythms.

The frog Rana pipiens takes up Ca2+ against an electrochemical gradient from dilute external solutions that are similar to natural freshwater environments. The influx is dependent upon external [Ca2+] and is saturable. Kinetic analysis yielded a Km of 0.625 mmol l-1 and a Jmax of 38 nmol cm-2h-1. These kinetic variables suggest that both the affinity and capacity are smaller than those for Na+ and Cl- transport in the skin of the same species. They are also smaller than those for Ca2+ transport in fish gill. A significant portion (20-25%) of the Ca2+ entering a frog remains in Ca(2+)-rich layers of the skin, with ventral skin containing about three times as much Ca2+ as dorsal skin. There are seasonal rhythms in Ca2+ exchange: although Ca2+ influx does not vary significantly over the year, efflux is minimal in July, while net flux, which is negative most of the year, appears to be positive in July. Since these fluxes do not include dietary calcium, one cannot conclude that feeding frogs are in negative Ca2+ balance.