Potassium conductance activated during regulatory volume decrease by mudpuppy red blood cells.

The cellular basis of regulatory volume decrease (RVD) by mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) red blood cells (RBCs) was examined. Volume regulation was inhibited by replacing extracellular Na+ with K+. In contrast, addition of gramicidin (5 microM) to the extracellular medium enhanced RVD.