Bone as an ion exchange system: evidence for a pump-leak mechanism devoted to the maintenance of high bone K(+).

To provide evidence of active accumulation of K(+) in bone extracellular fluid (BECF), electric currents driven by damaged living metatarsal bones of weanling mice, immersed in physiological media at different [K(+)], in the presence of blockers of the K(+) channels or of the Na(+)-K(+-)ATPase inhibitor, were measured by means of a voltage-sensitive two-dimensional vibrating probe. At 4 mM extracellular K(+) concentration ([K(+)](o)), an inward steady current density (7.85-38.53 microA/cm(2)) was recorded at the damage site, which was significantly dependent on [K(+)](o). At [K(+)](o) equal to that of BECF (25 mM), current density was reduced by 76%. At [K(+)](o) of 0 mM, the current density showed an increase, which was hindered by tetraethylammonium (TEA). Basal current density was reduced significantly after exposure to TEA or BaCl(2) and was unchanged after long- term exposure to ouabain. By changing control medium with a chloride-free medium, current density was reversed. The results support the view that K(+) excess in bone is maintained by a biologically active cellular system. Because the osteocyte-bone lining cell syncytium was at the origin of the current in bone, it is likely that this system controls the ionic composition of BECF.