title: Active calcium ion transport Xenopus laevis skin.
abstract: The skin of intact, free-swimming Xenopus laevis transports Ca2+ inwardly in a manner that is proportional to the external [Ca2+] up to about 0.3 mmol.l-1, saturates above 0.3 mmol.l-1, and is opposed to the electrochemical gradient. Efflux is relatively constant at external concentrations between 0.016 and 0.6 mmol.l-1; net flux which is negative below 0.125 mmol.l-1 becomes positive above this external [Ca2+]. Allometric analysis suggests that both Ca2+ influx and efflux scale to the 2/3 power approximately like surface area. There were no significant differences in influx between summer and fall animals; however, efflux was greater in the fall and this resulted in a change from positive balance in the summer to negative balance in the fall. Isolated skins were shown to support a Ca2+ uptake rate of nearly 30 nmol.cm-2.h-1. The phenylalkylamine verapamil in the apical bathing solution significantly inhibited this at 25 mumol.l-1. The benzothiazepine diltiazem was also effective at 50 mumol.l-1 while the dihydropyradine nifedipine was ineffective up to 100 mumol.l-1. The inorganic ion La3+ was effective at blocking Ca2+ uptake at 300 mumol.l-1; Ni2+ was also effective at 500 mumol.l-1 but Co2+ was ineffective up to 500 mumol.l-1. These results suggest that apical calcium channels in Xenopus laevis skin have properties similar to mammalian L-channels and fish gill Ca2+ channels.
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 91768, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Guirguis
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Stiffler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007811:Lanthanum / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D003035:Cobalt; D007811:Lanthanum; D009532:Nickel; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium