Effect of zinc on leucocyte sodium transport in vitro

1. In a preparation of human leucocytes maintained in tissue culture fluid, increasing the extracellular zinc concentration leads to a significant increase in both ouabain-sensitive sodium efflux and in sodium influx. 2. Cell water and sodium content do not alter significantly with increasing extracellular zinc concentration. 3. A small increase in the ouabain-insensitive sodium efflux can be demonstrated when the external zinc concentration is raised from 0.75 mumol/l to 90 mumol/l.