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Journal of Experimental Biology 136,149-175 (1988)
Published by Company of Biologists 1988

The Distribution of Ammonia and H⁺ Between Tissue Compartments in Lemon Sole (Parophrys Vetulus) at Rest, During Hypercapnia and Following Exercise

P. A. WRIGHT ¹, D. J. RANDALL ², and C. M. WOOD ³

¹ Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, KIN 6N5
² Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2A9
³ Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1

The distribution of ammonia and [¹⁴C]DMO was compared in white muscle, heart, brain, red cells and plasma of lemon sole (Parophrys vetulus Girard) at rest, during hypercapnia and following strenuous exercise. In red cells at rest, measured intracellular ammonia levels were equal to those predicted by the plasma to red cell pH gradient. Red cells are unusual in that hydrogen ions are passively distributed according to membrane potential (E_M), whereas in other tissues this is not the case. In white muscle, heart and brain under all experimental conditions, intracellular ammonia levels far exceed those predicted by transmembrane pH gradients. Calculated E_NHNH4⁺ values in these tissues are very close to published resting values of E_M. We conclude that, in lemon sole, NH₄⁺ permeates cell membranes and that intracellular ammonia stores are not determined by transmembrane pH gradients.

Key words: ammonia distribution, pH gradients, membrane potential, fish, hypercapnia, exercise

Accepted on November 6, 1987

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