Biophysical Journal 13: 56-71 (1973)
© 1973 the Biophysical Society

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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies on Intracellular Sodium in Human Erythrocytes and Frog Muscle

ABSTRACT

The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of sodium was determined in muscle and erythrocytes using conventional continuous wave techniques. NMR spectra of fresh intact muscle revealed a single line with a width of about 38 Hz equivalent in intensity to about 53% of the total muscle sodium, in general agreement with previous work. Prolonged washing with sodium-free solutions led to a marked loss of both total and NMR-detectable sodium. The NMR-visible sodium remaining in the muscle was somewhat larger than the fraction calculated to remain extracellular and, presumably, was intracellular. The original sodium signal is thus interpreted as arising from both extracellular sodium and the narrow line portion of the signal from intracellular sodium. NMR spectra of sodium were also obtained for human erythrocytes under conditions preserving the sodium transport system. The intensity of the sodium signal in fresh cells was 98% of that present in the same samples after complete hemolysis of the cells. The NMR sodium present in intact cells was 92% of the sodium recovered by flame photometric determination of sodium from ashed samples. It is concluded that no NMR-"invisible" sodium occurs in human erythrocytes and that the presence of such sodium is not necessary for the normal functioning of the sodium transport system in erythrocytes.