The Effect of Certain Electrolytes and Non-electrolytes on Permeability of Living Cells to Water

1. Permeability to water in unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata, is found to be greater in hypotonic solutions of dextrose, saccharose and glycocoll than in sea water of the same osmotic pressure. 2. The addition to dextrose solution of small amounts of CaCl(2) or MgCl(2) restores the permeability approximately to the value obtained in sea water. 3. This effect of CaCl(2) and MgCl(2) is antagonized by the further addition of NaCl or KCl. 4. It is concluded that the NaCl and KCl tend to increase the permeability of the cell to water, CaCl(2) and MgCl(2) to decrease it. 5. The method here employed can be used for quantitative study of salt antagonism.