The effect of Ca and antidiuretic hormone on Na transport across frog skin. II. Sites and mechanisms of action.

A method has been developed for determining unidirectional Na fluxes across the two faces of the transporting cells in the frog skin. The method has been used to investigate the location of the sites at which Ca and anti-diuretic hormone act to alter the rate of active Na transport across the skin. The results have indicated that the primary effect of both agents is on the Na permeability of the outward facing membrane of the cells. Ca decreases and the hormone increases permeability of this barrier. Neither agent appears to have a direct effect on the active transport system itself assuming that it is located at the inner membrane of the cells. The rate of active Na transport is altered as a result of changes in the size of the Na pool in the cells which occur because of changes in the rate of Na entry through the outer membrane. Thus, the results indicate that the Na permeability of the outer membrane plays an important role in controlling the rate of net active Na transport across the skin.