[Univalent cation transport in human and rat erythrocytes: its regulation by protein kinase activators and...

The effect of the activators of protein kinase A (dibutyryl-cAMP) and protein kinase C (beta-phorbolic ether), as well as cell compression, on the rate of 22Na and 86Rb, a radioactive potassium analogue, incorporation by human and rat erythrocytes was investigated. Protein kinase A and protein kinase C activation was accompanied by the activation of Na+, K+-ATP-ase in human and rat erythrocytes as well as increased Na+, K+ cotransport rate in rat erythrocytes. Human erythrocytes responded to protein kinase C activation by a 2 or 3-fold increase in Na+/Na+-antitransport rate, and both human and rat erythrocytes exhibited a manifold increase in the Na+/H+ metabolism rate. Cell compression depressed Na+, K+-ATP-ase activity and increased the rates of Na+/H+ metabolism and the frusemide-inhibited component of potassium transport, the latter two effects being particularly obvious in rat erythrocytes. It is suggested that protein kinase C activation and/or erythrocyte compression may be a direct cause of increased plasmatic membrane permeability for univalent cations in primary hypertension.