Proportional equilibration of K, Na ions, and sucrose molecules in pig lenses incubated in the presence of the non‐ionic detergent triton X‐100

The release of sodium and potassium and the uptake of sucrose molecules was studied in pig lenses incubated in isosmotic sucrose solution in either the presence or absence of 1% Triton X‐100 (a non‐ionic detergent). This Triton X‐100 treatment has been shown to cause severe disruptions of cell membrane integrity. If sodium and potassium were free in the lens fibers as in a dilute aqueous solution, they would be expected to diffuse three to four times faster than sucrose. However, measurements of sodium and potassium release and sucrose uptake in the Triton X‐100 treated lenses show a 1:1 equilibration. When pig lenses were incubated in the same solution without detergent, the sucrose uptake was significantly less than the potassium and sodium release. It is postulated that a slow, detergent mediated collapse of protein‐water‐ion interactions within the lens is the rate‐limiting step of the observed equilibration of monovalent cations and sucrose molecules.