Figure 8. The mean valency of intracellular organic osmolyte influences the eventual stable values of both V_c and E_m.

A, the starting conditions of three cells. These cells were modelled with initially identical intracellular organic osmolyte concentrations, but in each cell the mean charge valency of this osmolyte (z_X) was different. Note that although initial intracellular inorganic ion concentrations also varied between the three cells, this would have no influence on the final stable values of V_c or E_m (see Fig. 3). Filled columns: z_X = 2; open columns, z_X = 1; grey columns, z_X = 0. B, the final stable values reached after a 5- h modelling period. Each cell reached stable values of V_c, E_m, [Na⁺]_i, [K⁺]_i, [Cl⁻]_i or [X⁻]_i, but there were no similarities between the three cells. Increasing the negative charge on intracellular organic osmolyte produced larger, more highly polarized cells. C, a summary of the influence of z_X upon E_m (continuous line) and V_c (dashed line).