High nucleo-cytoplasmic concentration gradient of chloride in rat liver.

PREVIOUSLY, a high nucleo-cytoplasmic concentration gradient of sodium was found in rat liver and other tissues1,2. Since the concentration of potassium also was higher in the nucleus than in the cytoplasm, about 500 µequiv./g dry weight of anions should exist in the nucleus if the assumption is correct that nucleic acids and basic proteins approximately neutralize each other. This communication presents data which demonstrate a high concentration of chloride in the nucleus of the rat-liver cell.