MITOCHONDRIAL CHANGES INDUCED BY POTASSIUM AND SODIUM IN THE DUODENAL ABSORPTIVE CELL AS STUDIED WITH THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

Abstract

Duodenal absorptive cells from animals fed large amounts of sodium or potassium contain many mitochondria with internal granules. Many mitochondrial granules are also present in cells which transport large amounts of cation. The hypothesis is advanced that the mitochondrial granule represents cation segregated within the mitochondrion. A mechanism is suggested for the segregation of excessive intracellular potassium, and for the transport of cations across cells.