Coupled Solute Fluxes in Toad Skin

Abstract

Net inward flux of mannitol across toad skin induced by making the outside solution hypertonic with urea has been investigated. No significant relation between net mannitol flux and net Na flux could be detected when both fluxes were measured simultaneously. In addition, the net mannitol flux caused by hypertonic solution was not altered by inhibition of Na transport with ouabain or by replacement of all Na in the bathing solutions by choline. The rate of net mannitol flux was dependent on the magnitude of the urea concentration difference across the skin and the direction of net flux could be reversed by reversing the direction of the urea concentration difference. These observations suggest that the mannitol transfer is the result of a coupling between the flows of urea and mannitol.