Ionic movements mediated by monensin in frog skeletal muscle.

Monensin-mediated ionic movements were studied in frog skeletal muscle. The ionophore, which forms electrically neutral complexes with monovalent cations, induced dose dependent fluxes of Na+, K+ and H+ in and out of the fibers. Monensin concentrations ([MON]) ranged from 2 to 40 microM. In the presence of normal Ringer's solution the following maximum ionic exchanges were generated by monensin (in pmol cm-2 s-1): (1) Nai+/Nao+ 112, (2) Nai+/Ho+ 30.7, (3) Ki+/Nao+ 14.2 (4) Hi+/Nao+ 49. The maximum net fluxes produced by these exchanges (i.e. for [MON] = infinity) are (in pmol cm-2 s-1): Na+ (inward) 32.5, K+ (outward) 14.2, H+ (outward) 18.3. The last one appears to be largely offset by a passive (monensin-independent) H+ influx down an inwardly directed electrochemical gradient promoted by pH reduction of the T-tubular lumen content as a consequence of the monensin-mediated net H+ efflux. Maximum unidirectional cationic fluxes mediated by monensin amounted to 206 pmol cm-2 s-1 and had the following composition: influx: 85% Na+ and 15% H+; efflux: 69% Na+, 7% K+, 24% H+.