Differences in erythrocyte cation (sodium) transport between Chinese and non Chinese males

Erythrocyte sodium content, sodium pump activity (ouabain sensitive efflux rate, efflux rate constant, ouabain binding sites and Na+, K+-ATPase activity), sodium-lithium countertransport and sodium-potassium cotransport activities were measured in 10 European males, 11 non Chinese Asian males and 12 Chinese males. There were no differences between the 3 groups in any of the measurements of active transport. The sodium-lithium countertransport was higher and sodium-potassium cotransport (measured as lithium-potassium cotransport) was lower in Chinese compared to either the Europeans or non Chinese Asians. There were no differences in counter and cotransport activities between the Europeans and non Chinese Asians. Multiple regression analysis showed that the co and countertransport pathways contribute little to the maintenance of erythrocyte sodium content in healthy subjects.