An electrogenic component of the potential difference in the rabbit lens.

The normal resting potential of the rabbit lens, -70mV, is altered to -59mV by ouabain concentrations up to 5-1- minus 6M, and to -52mV at 4 degrees C. Ouabain acts only at the anterior lens surface. The temperature effect id completely reversible. The Hodgkin-Katz-Goldman equation can be used with the measured lens potentials and Na+ and K+ levels in the lens and bathing medium to obtain alpha, the ration of the membrane permeabilities to Na+ and K+. The alpha-values obtained were 0.052 at 4 degrees C and 0.053 in 5-10 minus 6M ouabain. These data suggest that the change in potential due to cold and ouabain is caused by an inhibition of an electrogenic Na+ ump in the anterior lens epithelium.