An electrophysiological study of the salt gland of the herring gull

Abstract

When the salt gland of the herring gull excretes sodium chloride the duct of the gland becomes positive relative to the blood. Strophanthin, an inhibitor of active sodium transport, prevents the establishment of the positive potential and also blocks gland secretion. The findings suggest that an active transport of sodium from the blood to the gland lumen may be a primary secretory mechanism.