Movements of radioactive potassium in isolated rat ganglia

1. Isolated rat superior cervical ganglia were continuously superfused with (42)K (or (86)Rb) solution and the amount of radioactivity taken up was monitored using scintillation counting.2. Entry of (42)K into the ganglia could be resolved into two components, one amounting to 83% of the total (42)K uptake, with a rate constant of 0.015 min(-1), and the other of 17% of the total, with a rate constant of 0.15 min(-1).3. With 6 mM-K in the bathing solution, the equilibrium uptake of (42)K after 4 hr corresponded to an intracellular concentration of 147 mM-K. Changes in the K concentration of the bathing solution (0.5-20 mM) had little effect on this value.4. Carbachol or nicotine caused a rapid net loss of (42)K. (42)K was recaptured on washing out the depolarizing agents, with a rate constant of about 0.3 min(-1). This recapture rate was slowed by ouabain, dinitrophenol, cyanide, mersalyl and by reducing the K concentration in the bathing solution.5. Efflux of (42)K from preloaded ganglia occurred with a rate constant of 0.017 min(-1). This rate was increased about sixfold by 180 muM carbachol in 6 mM-K but not in 150 mM-K suggesting that the increase in efflux was mainly a consequence of the depolarization caused by carbachol.6. (86)Rb fluxes and the effects of carbachol thereon were similar.