Regulation of cellular growth by sodium pump activity

Cellular growth has been found to be directly related to the amount of sodium pumping activity in mouse lymphoblasts (L5178-Y) cultured in varying concentrations of the cardiac glycoside, ouabain. No short-term adaptation (within one generation) occured; i.e., neither growth rate nor (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity increased in cells cultured for 1-2 days in ouabain. Growth inhibition commenced after two hours, occurring concomitantly with decreased 3H-leucine incorporation into protein. The time course of this inhibition of protein synthesis, measured by leucine incorporation was similar to, but slightly slower than the time course or the dissipation of the sodium gradient. On the other hand, 3H-thymidine incorporation is unaffected by ouabain treatment over the same period. The uptake of 3H-alanine, a neutral amino acid thought to be transported via a Na+-dependent carri-r, was depressed concurrently with the sodium gradient dissipation. It is suggested, therefore, that ouabain inhibition of cellular growth results primarily from the dissipation of the sodium gradient leading to decreased Na+-dependent transport of amino acids (e.g., alanine) and, therefore, decreased protein synthesis, as observed by leucine incorporation. A sensitive and rapid method for determining ouabain inhibition of cell volume regulation is also described, which may prove potentially useful for assaying Na pump activity.