Kinetics of Ion Movement in the Squid Giant Axon

The loss of Na(22), K(42), and Cl(36) from single giant axons of the squid, Loligo pealii, following exposure to an artificial sea water containing these radioisotopes, occurs in two stages, an initial rapid one followed by an exponential decline. The time constants of the latter stage for the 3 ion species are, respectively, 290, 200, and 175 minutes. The outflux of sodium is depressed while that of potassium is accelerated in the absence of oxygen; the emergence of potassium is slowed by cocaine, while that of sodium is unaffected. One cm. ends of the axons take up about twice as much radiosodium as the central segment; this difference in activity is largely preserved during exposure to inactive solution. Such marked differences are not observed with radiopotassium. From the experimental data estimates are given of the influxes and outfluxes of the individual ions. The kinetics of outflux suggests a cortical layer of measureable thickness which contains the ions in different proportions from those in the medium and which governs the rate of emergence of these ions from the axon as though it contained very few but large (relative to ion dimensions) pores.