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. 1976 May;257(1):245–255. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1976.sp011366

Measurement of potassium and chloride ion concentrations in the cupulae of the lateral lines of Xenopus laevis.

I J Russell, P M Sellick
PMCID: PMC1309354  PMID: 948058

Abstract

1. Potential measurements were made with double barrel ion selective electrodes from the cupulae of lateral line organs in the aquatic toad Xenopus laevis. 2. A positive endocupular potential (ECP) of 15-50 mV was recorded within the cupula, immediately above the hair cells. 3. Increases in the Cl- and K+ potentials were recorded when the ion selective electrodes touched the cupula. Cupular Cl- and K+ varied between 35 and 70 mM and 24 and 100 mM respectively. This variation existed between, rather than within, different animals. 4. Subcutaneous injections of 0-4 ml. 2 mM ouabain greatly reduced the ECP and cupular K+, whereas 0-4 ml. of Xenopus Ringer had no effect. 5. Changing the bath Cl- a hundredfold had no effect on the ECP. It was concluded that the ECP was produced by an electrogenic K+ pump which maintained high K+ levels within the cupula.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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