An investigation of sodium transport in barnacle muscle fibres by means of the microsyringe technique.

1. The cation composition of single barnacle muscle fibres following damage by axial insertion of a microsyringe has been measured. The Na and Ca contents of these fibres were raised.2. Electronmicroscopic studies of fibres following insertion of a microsyringe indicated that the damage done resulted in tubular obstruction of the T-system.3. Fibres loaded with radiosodium by micro-injection showed that the Na(*) efflux declined exponentially with time, but that in most fibres the slope ratio of d/dt ln [Na(*)](1) to d/dt (ln d[Na(*)](i)/dt) was less than unity. Injections of distilled water deep in the fibre failed to influence the course of the Na(*) efflux.4. K removal reduced the Na efflux by 47%. However, a few fibres displayed very little K-dependence.5. When measured in fibres already soaked in a K-free medium for long periods the sodium efflux consisted of a brief rapid phase, followed by a slow phase of Na loss.6. In the presence of 30 mM-K, there was little or no rise in the Na efflux. Raising the external K to 50 or 100 mM caused a marked rise in the Na efflux. Raising the external K to 30 mM in the absence of external Ca(2+) led to a rise in the Na efflux. A high K solution always caused shortening of these fibres.7. Internal application of 1 M or 1 mM-CaCl(2) often caused a significant rise in the Na efflux.8. Internal application of 2.5 or 5 M saline caused a prompt and large fall in the Na efflux. In the presence of high K saline-loaded fibres failed to contract.9. Internal application of 0.5 M-ATP stimulated the Na efflux. A larger effect was not observed in fibres pre-treated with 2 M-MgCl(2). Internal application of 0.5 M-ArP was without effect.10. The results indicate that the barnacle fibre is a suitable preparation for the study of Na fluxes by means of the micro-injection technique. They also indicate that the mechanism regulating the Na efflux is not quite the same as that found in squid axon or frog muscle.