Refractoriness of cation transport in turkey erythrocytes to stimulation by cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate.

In turkey erythrocytes bidirectional fluxes of sodium and potassium develop a time-dependent refractoriness to stimulation by endogenous cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP). The refractoriness of potassium influx and potassium outflux (both of which require extracellular sodium and potassium for stimulation by cyclic AMP) depends on the extracellular concentrations of sodium and potassium. In contrast, the refractoriness developed by sodium outflux (which does not require extracellular sodium or potassium for stimulation by cyclic AMP) does not depend on the extracellular concentrations of sodium or potassium. The refractoriness of these fluxes to cellular cyclic AMP reflects a decrease in the amount by which they can be maximally stimulated and appears to be proportional to the extent to which the transport system is utilized during the course of the incubation. Ouabain significantly reduces the rate at which cation transport in turkey erythrocytes becomes refractory to endogenous cyclic AMP. This effect of the glycoside is independent of the extracellular concentrations of sodium or potassium and does not correlate with how it alters the initial response of the transport systems to cyclic AMP.