A serial study of erythrocyte sodium content and sodium pump kinetics in pregnancy

1. Normotensive primigravid pregnant women were studied longitudinally during pregnancy and 20 weeks after delivery. 2. Erythrocyte sodium content, ouabain-sensitive sodium flux and sodium pump rate constant were measured in whole blood, and the maximum velocity and sodium affinity of the sodium pump were measured in vitro. 3. Erythrocyte sodium content decreased and the sodium pump rate constant increased up to 26 weeks gestation. The increase in rate constant was due to an increase in the affinity of the sodium pump for sodium up to 20 weeks gestation. After 20 weeks gestation there was an increase in maximum velocity and a decrease in sodium affinity of the sodium pump but no further change in the sodium pump rate constant. 4. At 14 weeks gestation the sodium pump rate constant was correlated with both the maximum velocity and sodium affinity constant. After this time the relationship was much more variable and there was no correlation with the sodium affinity constant. The comparison of measurements of the sodium pump in whole blood and in vitro gave no evidence of sodium pump inhibition. 5. The erythrocyte sodium pump changed throughout gestation with different components to the change, but, overall, available sodium pump activity in blood increased and sodium content decreased.