title: Coupling of Li+ distribution to the plasma membrane potential of rat cortical synaptosomes.
abstract: The effect of the plasma membrane potential delta psi p on the transport rate and steady state distribution of Li+ was assessed in rat cortical synaptosomes. Up to 15 mM Li+ failed to saturate Li+ influx into polarized synaptosomes in a Na+-based medium with 3 mM external K+. Veratridine increased and tetrodotoxin, ouabain, or high external K+ decreased the rate of Li+ influx. At steady state, Li+ was concentrated about 3-fold in resting synaptosomes at 0.3 to 1 mM Li+ externally. Subsequent depolarization of the plasma membrane by veratridine or high external K+ induced an immediate release of Li+. When graded depolarizations were imposed onto the plasma membrane by varying concentrations of ouabain, veratridine, or external K+, steady state distribution of Li+ was linearly related with K+ distribution or electrochemical activity coefficients. It was concluded that uptake rate and steady state distribution of Li+ depend significantly on delta psi p. However, Li+ gradients were lower than predicted from delta psi p, suggesting that (secondary) active transport systems counteracted passive equilibration by uphill extrusion of Li+. The electrochemical potential difference delta mu Li+ maintained at a delta psi p of -72 mV was calculated to 4.2 kJ/mol of Li+. At physiological external K+, Li+ was not actively transported by the sodium pump. The ouabain sensitivity resulted from the coupling of Li+ uptake to the pump-dependent K+ diffusion potential. In low K+ and K+-free media, however, active transport of Li+ by the sodium pump contributed to total uptake. In the absence of K+, Li+ substituted for K+ in generating a delta psi p of -64 mV maximally, as calculated from TPMP+ distribution at 40 mM external Li+. Since Li+ gradients were far too low to account for a diffusion potential, it was assumed that Li+ gave rise to an electrogenic pump potential.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008433:Mathematics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D010042:Ouabain; D008094:Lithium; D011188:Potassium