Accumulation and washout of glycerol in isolated rabbit atria

Continuously stimulated rabbit atria were equilibrated in Ringer-Locke solution, transfered to Ringer-Locke solution containing 400mm glycerol, and returned to Ringer-Locke solution. Accumulation and washout of glycerol were determined using tritium labeled glycerol. During exposure to the hypertonic media, glycerol was observed to accumulate in atria at a half time of approximately 12 min. Return of atria to Ringer-Locke solution resulted in glycerol washout at a half time of approximately 16 min. Data indicated that only about 80% of the total tissue water is accessible to glycerol, and that the remaining 20% becomes accessible to glycerol when CuSO₄ is added to the hypertonic media. A permanent decrease in wet tissue weight was seen as a result of glycerol treatment.