Effects of cytotoxins on intracellular na/K balance in mouse embryonic cell

Cytoplasmic Na/K imbalance induced by cytotoxic substances (ethylene glycol and cytochalasin B) was studied. Incubation in Dulbecco's medium with these cytotoxins caused changes in K and Na concentrations in the mouse two-cell embryo blastomer. The effects of both substances resulted in a drop of Na content in the embryonic cell. Washing from cytochalasin B restored the initial Na/K balance in the cytoplasm. Possible adaptive mechanisms involved in the regulation of intracellular ionic homeostasis are discussed.