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Journal of Experimental Biology 61,277-283 (1974)
Published by Company of Biologists 1974

The Effect of External Potassium Ions on the Electrical Potential Measured Across the Gills of the Teleost, Dormitator Maculatus

DAVID H. EVANS ¹, JEFFREY C. CARRIER ¹, and MARGARET B. BOGAN ¹

¹ Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124

1. A technique has been developed for the measurement of electrical potentials (TGP's) across the gills of free-swimming, Dormitator maculatus.

2. Transfer of fish to various KCl solutions is correlated with changes in the TGP, which are not of sufficient magnitude to account for the known potassium stimulation of sodium efflux from this species.

3. Transfer to potassium-free sea water results in little or no change in TGP while previous results have shown that such a transfer is correlated with a 22% reduction of sodium efflux.

4. Transfer to fresh water results in a reduction of TGP from +17 mV (inside positive) to -36 mV which is sufficient to account for the instantaneous reduction in sodium efflux previously shown for this species.

5. It is concluded that while changes in TGP can account for the ‘Na-free effect’ in D. maculatus they cannot account for the potassium effects on sodium extrusion. This supports the previous conclusion that sodium efflux and potassium influx are chemically linked in this species.