Potassium Uptake of Normal and Low Potassium Human Red Corpuscles ∗

Abstract

Summary

The potassium exchange of normal human erythrocytes in vitro increased with increasing plasma potassium concentration and approached a constant level at concentrations above 9 mEq/L.

In an experiment with low potassium erythrocytes from a case of persistent hypopotassemia in which the plasma potassium concentration was raised the potassium uptake (K-influx) was found to be increased by 40% of the corresponding values for normal erythrocytes. This increase in the K-influx corresponded quantitatively to a demonstrated net transport of potassium into the low potassium red blood cells. The simultaneous emigration of K-ions, however, was not reduced, and therefore the net transport of potassium could not be considered a result of a reduced potassium emigration from the cells.

The low potassium concentrations of the erythrocytes in this particular case seemed to reflect the potassium depletion of the body cells.