The effects of extracellular NaCl, corticosterone and ouabain on the Na⁺, K⁺, and water concentrations in the nasal salt glands of freshwater and salt-adapted pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

1. 1. Incubated slices from the nasal salt glands (NSG) of freshwater and salt-adapted Pekin ducks contained similar intracellular Na⁺, K⁺ and water concentrations; these concentrations did not change in relation to the Na⁺ concentration of the incubation medium. 2. 2. Corticosterone, when added to the incubation medium, had no measurable effect on the intracellular concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺ or water. 3. 3. These results indicate that corticosterone-sensitive NSG secretion and hyperplasia in the duck are not associated with an elevated intracellular Na⁺ concentration. 4. 4. Ouabain increased the intracellular Na⁺ concentration and decreased the K⁺ concentration in NSG but did not affect cell water content.