Skip to main content
The Journal of General Physiology logoLink to The Journal of General Physiology
. 1966 May 1;49(5):913–924. doi: 10.1085/jgp.49.5.913

Potential, Current, and Ionic Fluxes across the Isolated Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Choroid

Arnaldo Lasansky 1, Felisa W de Fisch 1
PMCID: PMC2195519  PMID: 5961357

Abstract

A flux chamber was utilized for in vitro studies of a membrane formed by the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid of the eye of the toad (Bufo arenarum and Bufo marinus). A transmembrane potential of 20 to 30 mv was found, the pigment epithelium surface positive with respect to the choroidal surface. Unidirectional fluxes of chloride, sodium, potassium, and calcium were determined in the absence of an electrochemical potential difference. A net transfer of chloride from pigment epithelium to choroid accounted for a major fraction of the mean short-circuit current. A small net flux of sodium from choroid to pigment epithelium was detected in Bufo marinus. In both species of toads, however, about one-third of the mean short-circuit current remained unaccounted for. Manometric determinations of bicarbonate suggested an uptake of this ion at the epithelial surface of the membrane but did not provide evidence of a relationship between this process and the short-circuit current.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (761.5 KB).

Selected References

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

  1. BRINDLEY G. S., HAMASAKI D. I. The properties and nature of the R membrane of the frog's eye. J Physiol. 1963 Jul;167:599–606. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1963.sp007170. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CURRAN P. F., SOLOMON A. K. Ion and water fluxes in the ileum of rats. J Gen Physiol. 1957 Sep 20;41(1):143–168. doi: 10.1085/jgp.41.1.143. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DONN A., MAURICE D. M., MILLS N. L. Studies on the living cornea in vitro. II. The active transport of sodium across the epithelium. Arch Ophthalmol. 1959 Nov;62:748–757. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1959.04220050010002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. ENGBAEK L., HOSHIKO T. Electrical potential gradients through frog skin. Acta Physiol Scand. 1957 Jul 1;39(4):348–355. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1957.tb01433.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. HARVEY R. B. Vascular resistance changes produced by hyperosmotic solutions. Am J Physiol. 1960 Jul;199:31–34. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1960.199.1.31. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. HOGBEN C. A. Active transport of chloride by isolated frog gastric epithelium; origin of the gastric mucosal potential. Am J Physiol. 1955 Mar;180(3):641–649. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. LEAF A., ANDERSON J., PAGE L. B. Active sodium transport by the isolated toad bladder. J Gen Physiol. 1958 Mar 20;41(4):657–668. doi: 10.1085/jgp.41.4.657. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Lasansky A. Functional implications of structural findings in retinal glial cells. Prog Brain Res. 1965;15:48–72. doi: 10.1016/s0079-6123(08)60939-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. PORTER K. R., YAMADA E. Studies on the endoplasmic reticulum. V. Its form and differentiation in pigment epithelial cells of the frog retina. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1960 Sep;8:181–205. doi: 10.1083/jcb.8.1.181. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. SCHULTZ S. G., ZALUSKY R. ION TRANSPORT IN ISOLATED RABBIT ILEUM. I. SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENT AND NA FLUXES. J Gen Physiol. 1964 Jan;47:567–584. doi: 10.1085/jgp.47.3.567. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. ZADUNAISKY J. A., CANDIA O. A., CHIARANDINI D. J. THE ORIGIN OF THE SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENT IN THE ISOLATED SKIN OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN FROG LEPTODACTYLUS OCELLATUS. J Gen Physiol. 1963 Nov;47:393–402. doi: 10.1085/jgp.47.2.393. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of General Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Rockefeller University Press

RESOURCES