title: Electrophysiology of newt skin: effects of prolactin.
abstract: Integumental transepithelial potential (TEP) was measured by both in vivo and in vitro (Ussing chamber) techniques in the same adult terrestrial-phase California newts (Taricha torosa). In both types of preparation, TEP showed a logarithmic relation to external sodium (as Na2SO4) concentrations between 0.1 and 10 meq/liter, with in vivo values exceeding in vitro values at all points. KM was ca. 1 and 5 meq/liter for the in vivo and in vitro preparations, respectively. When terrestrial-phase newts were treated with prolactin (PRL; 50 mIU/g/day), in vivo TEP declined significantly within 3 days. In vivo TEP versus [Na+]ext curves of recently collected aquatic-phase newts were found to be not significantly different from those of PRL-treated terrestrial-phase animals. Current/voltage (I/V) plots likewise showed that skin from aquatic-phase and PRL-treated terrestrial-phase newts was electrophysiologically alike. Estimates and calculations based on the I/V relationship suggest that PRL acts primarily to increase the epithelial electrical resistance in the transcellular pathway, with no effect on the electromotive force of the sodium pump.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, Albany 12222.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin