Ion movements in human red cells independent of the sodium pump

1. A study was made of the dependence on external Na of the movements of Na and K in human red cells. Special attention was given to ouabain-insensitive movements. The effect of internal Na on Na influx, and the influence of some sulphydryl inhibitors on ion movements and metabolism was also investigated.2. External Na stimulated ouabain-insensitive Na efflux and K influx. There was also a ouabain-insensitive component of Na influx that was raised on increasing the internal Na concentration. Exchange diffusion of Na appears to occur in the presence of ouabain and external K.3. Net transport of Na and K in the presence of ouabain was independent of external Na, as was also lactate production.4. Ethacrynic acid partially inhibited the Na pump; the Na-dependent components of Na efflux and K influx in the presence of ouabain were completely inhibited by ethacrynic acid. Both ouabain-sensitive and ouabain-insensitive adenosinetriphosphatase activities were inhibited by ethacrynic acid indicating a non-specific effect of this compound. Iodoacetamide decreased only the ouabain-insensitive ATPase activity.5. The results suggest that when the Na pump is blocked by ouabain, part of the residual ion movements can be attributed to exchange diffusion.