Uptake of [3H]benzamil at different sodium concentrations. Inferences regarding the regulation of sodium permeability.

1. The effect of benzamil on short-circuit current in frog skin was measured at different external sodium concentrations. A linear relationship exists between the concentration of benzamil reducing short-circuit current by 50% and the external sodium concentration, indicative of some form of competitive antagonism between sodium and benzamil. 2. Uptake of [3H]benzamil into isolated frog skin epithelium and whole skin (0.95 cm2 pieces) was measured at different external sodium concentrations. With a sodium concentration of 111 mM in the external medium the uptake of [3H]benzamil is linear with concentration. Uptake amounted to 8.8 f-mole nM-1, a value similar to the linear component of the uptake measured at low (1.1 mM) sodium concentration. 3. Using a variety of other conditions the maximal number of specific binding sites for [3H]benzamil was calculated from displaceable binding and the fractional occupancy, the latter being derived from the inhibition of short-circuit current. This approach gave similar binding site densities to those reported previously at low sodium concentrations. 4. The reduction in specific [3H]benzamil uptake at high sodium may result from two mechanisms, competition of sodium with the ligand for an external binding site and a reduction in the site density as the intracellular sodium concentration increases. 5. It is concluded that the saturation of sodium transport which occurs at high sodium concentration is likely a consequence of the reduced availability of entry sites, rather than saturation of the uptake process.