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A great deal of research is
being carried out on the mechanism of the "sodium pump" which maintains the
differences across cell membranes of a relatively high concentration of
potassium ions and a very low concentration of sodium ions inside the cell
and the reverse in the fluid bathing the cells. Frog skin is an example of a
tissue which has such pumps on only one side of the cells. The experiments
in this program demonstrate the uptake of radioactive sodium (24Na) through
the skin of a frog’s hindlegs, right side out and everted; a counter
determines the amount of sodium taken up. The second experiment measures the
electrical potential across the skin. The third experiment shows the effect
of inhibiting the sodium transport on the transepithelial potential. The
drug ouabain, which is a specific inhibitor of the enzyme Na+ + K+—ATPase
(which constitutes the sodium pump) is added to both the outside and the
inside of the skin and readings of the potential are taken. The fourth
experiment illustrates the effect of a hormone produced in the frog’s
pituitary gland. (15 minutes)
ORDER CODE: FFMBVL1089V
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ORDER CODE: FFMBVL1089DVD
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