scholarly journals NEW MEMBRANE FORMATION DURING CYTOKINESIS IN NORMAL AND CYTOCHALASIN B-TREATED EGGS OF XENOPUS LAEVIS

1974 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siegfried W. de Laat ◽  
John G. Bluemink
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Cytochalasin B ◽  
Specific Resistance ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Vitelline Membrane ◽  
High Permeability ◽  
Entire Surface ◽  
Ionic Permeability ◽  
Intracellular Microelectrodes

The electrical membrane potential (Em) and electrical membrane resistance (Rm) were measured continuously during the first cleavage of Xenopus eggs, using intracellular microelectrodes. A sharp hyperpolarization of Em and decrease in Rm can be observed from 6 to 8 min after the onset of cleavage. This moment coincides with the onset of the insertion of new membrane (Bluemink and de Laat, 1973) leading to the formation of the interblastomeric membrane during normal cleavage. Removal of the vitelline membrane or exposure to cytochalasin B (CCB) leads to exposure of the entire surface area of the membrane newly formed during cleavage. These conditions allow for a direct measurement of the permeability properties of the new membrane. It was found that under these conditions Em reaches values about 3 times more negative and Rm reaches values about 1.5–3 times smaller than during normal cleavage. The extent of reduction of Rm can be correlated with the surface area of the newly formed membrane. We conclude that the new membrane has different ionic permeability properties than the pre-existing membrane (most probably a relatively high permeability for K+ ions). Its mean specific resistance is 1–2 kΩ·cm2, as against 74 kΩ·cm2 for the pre-existing membrane. No influence of CCB on the permeability properties of the pre-existing or new membrane could be detected.

Some bio-electric parameters of early Xenopus embryos

Development ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-553
Author(s):  
J. F. Palmer ◽  
Christine Slack
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
South African ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Input Resistance ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Current Spread ◽  
Intracellular Microelectrodes ◽  
Junctional Resistance

Membrane potential and resistance were measured in eggs, cleavage stages and blastulae of the South African toad Xenopus laevis, using intracellular microelectrodes. The membrane potential increased from −6·5 ± 2mV in eggs to −57 ± 8·0mV at the mid-blastula stage. The input resistance of fertile eggs ranged from 0·5 MΩ to 5·0 MΩ corresponding to a specific resistance of 20–200kΩcm2. During the first two or three division cycles the input resistance usually decreased by a factor of 2–10 and then subsequently rose during the blastula stages from a mean value of 600 ± 100kΩ at stage 5 to 2·0 ± 0·5 MΩ at stage 8. At all developmental stages examined, point polarization of a surface cell in the embryo by rectangular current pulses of 0·5−6 × 10−8 A produced voltage deflexions in other surface cells. This was seen even when several (7–8) cell junctions intervened between the current passing and voltage recording microelectrodes at distances of more than 1 mm. These measurements suggest that the junctional resistance is low compared with that at the surface, though the geometrical arrangement of cells is not favourable for calculation of absolute values of membrane resistance. Current spread between cells occurred apparently less easily during mid-blastula stages than at earlier stages in development, perhaps indicating an increase in junctional resistance during development. A comparison has been drawn between the present measurements and similar ones made in another amphibian, Triturus.

Transepithelial and cell membrane electrical resistances of the rabbit proximal convoluted tubule

1984 ◽  
Vol 247 (4) ◽  
pp. F637-F649 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Y. Lapointe ◽  
R. Laprade ◽  
J. Cardinal
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Specific Resistance ◽  
Basolateral Membrane ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Chloride Permeability ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Intracellular Microelectrodes ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Convoluted Tubules

A technique using double-barreled perfusion pipettes and intracellular microelectrodes was developed to measure transepithelial, apical, and basolateral membrane electrical resistances in isolated rabbit proximal convoluted tubules (PCT). This technique has been tested successfully with respect to cable analysis: the transepithelial resistance (RT) did not change with tubule length and the measured core resistance of the lumen (RC) varied according to prediction with lumen diameter and perfusate resistivity. In control solutions, a linear I-V relationship was observed at the entry of the tubule for current varying from -300 to +300 nA. The mean RT was 1,050 +/- 70 omega X cm (n = 33) (a specific resistance of 8.2 omega X cm2). Bath proteins and large variations in transtubular hydrostatic pressure had no significant effect on RT, whereas RT was not systematically related to transepithelial PD or to the sodium-to-chloride permeability ratio (n = 22). Perfusate substitution of 50 mM NaCl by mannitol increased RT by 21% (n = 7) but the same maneuver in the peritubular solution had no significant effect after a 5-min equilibration period. The ratio of apical to basolateral cell membrane resistance (RA/RBL) determined with intracellular microelectrodes was 3.1 +/- 0.3 (n = 27) in control solutions and increased within 1 min by 36% (n = 8) when glucose and alanine were replaced by mannitol in the perfusate solution. Using simultaneous initial changes in transepithelial and basolateral potential differences when glucose and alanine were removed, the individual values of RA and RBL were determined. Mean RBL was 4,900 +/- 990 omega X cm (39 +/- 1.3 omega X cm2) and mean RA was 15,000 +/- 4,300 omega X cm (118 +/- 33 omega X cm2).

Ultrafiltration of silica sols

1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Stakić ◽  
Slobodan Milonjić ◽  
Vladeta Pavasović ◽  
Zoja Ilić
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Silica Particle ◽  
Specific Resistance ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Surface Unit ◽  
Silica Sols ◽  
Filtration Flux ◽  
Batch Cell

Ultrafiltration of three laboratory made silica and two commercial silica sols was studied using Amicon YC membrane in a 200 ml capacity batch-cell. The effect of silica particle size, stirring conditions, pressure, pH and silica contents on ultrafiltration was investigated. The results obtained indicate that the smaller particles have, disregarding the stirring conditions, lower filtration flux. The differences observed in filtration flux are more pronounced in the conditions without stirring. The obtained value of the membrane resistance is independent of the conditions investigated (stirring, pressure, pH, silica contents and particle size). The values of the resistance of polarized solids, specific resistance, and the mass of gel per membrane surface unit were calculated for all experimental conditions.

Ultrastructural changes in the avian vitelline membrane during embryonic development

Development ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-484
Author(s):  
Cynthia Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Mechanical Strength ◽  
Dual Role ◽  
Early Embryonic Development ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Vitelline Membrane ◽  
Entire Surface ◽  
Animal Pole ◽  
The Third ◽  
Vegetal Pole

The vitelline (yolk) membrane of the avian egg plays a dual role during early embryonic development; it encloses the yolk and provides a substratum for expansion of the embryo (Fig. 1). Expansion appears to be dependent upon the movement of cells at the edge of the blastoderm which is intimately associated with the inner layer of the vitelline membrane (New, 1959; Bellairs, 1963). The blastoderm (embryonic plus extraembryonic cells) has almost covered the entire surface of the yolk by the third and fourth days of incubation, and when this stage has been reached the vitelline membrane ruptures over the embryo and slips toward the vegetal pole. Rupture of the membrane during development appears to be the consequence of a decrease in its mechanical strength (Moran, 1936), which changes most rapidly at the animal pole (over the embryo).

scholarly journals The perforation of the frustules of planktonic diatoms Pseudosolenia calcar-avis and Proboscia alata (Bacillariophyceae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Lyakh A.M.
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Geometric Modeling ◽  
Direct Determination ◽  
Entire Surface ◽  
Planktonic Diatoms ◽  
Centric Diatoms ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Material Energy ◽  
The Relationship

Physiological and biophysical characteristics of microalgae should strongly depend on the surface area of the cover of organisms, as all the material-energy streams flow through the surface. However, to determine the relationship between the intensity of the flow of substances with the physiology of unicellular, it is necessary to take into account only the area of perforations, since the rest of the shell is impermeable for substances. The direct determination of the area of perforations on the entire surface of the microalgae is very difficult. Therefore, the indirect method of estimating the perforation area using geometric modeling of the perforation distribution (texture) on the surface was used in this study. The object of the research is two types of marine plankton diatoms with large cylindrical frustules. It was assumed that the frustules are covered with a regular triangular texture of the areola. This texture can be divided into regular hexagons, which allows us to estimate the number of areolas as the ratio of the surface area of the frustules to the area of one hexagon. The model takes into account that each areola is covered with a silicon plate perforated by a smaller pore. The multiplication of the number of areolas on the area of a given pore gives the value of the total area of perforations. Calculations showed that the perforation of the frustules of Proboscia alata was 4%, and Pseudosolenia calcar-avis – 6%. These are the first estimates of the perforation of the entire surface of the diatom frustules. The acquired data confirms the hypothesis that frustules of the most centric diatoms are covered by pores by about 5%, and the other surface is impervious to material flows.

Sustained membrane potential change of uropod motor neurons during the fictive abdominal posture movement in crayfish

1986 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 702-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Takahata ◽  
M. Hisada
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Potential Change ◽  
Quiescent State ◽  
Membrane Potential Change ◽  
Synaptic Potentials ◽  
Nonspiking Interneurons ◽  
Body Rolling ◽  
Dendritic Branches

The occurrence of the uropod steering response as one of the equilibrium reflexes to body rolling in crayfish is significantly facilitated if the stimulus is given while the animal is performing the abdominal posture movement. This facilitation of the descending statocyst pathway by the abdominal posture system takes place between the uropod motor neurons and the statocyst interneurons, which directly project from the brain to the terminal abdominal ganglion where the motor neurons originate. To elucidate the synaptic mechanisms underlying the postural facilitation of the steering response, we analyzed in this study the activity of an identified set of uropod motor neurons during the fictive abdominal extension movement in the whole-animal preparation. Intracellular recordings from the dendritic branches of uropod motor neurons revealed that they were continuously excited during the fictive abdominal extension. The large fast motor neurons usually showed a sustained depolarization of the subthreshold magnitude. The small slow ones showed a suprathreshold sustained depolarization with spikes superimposed. Putative inhibitory motor neurons, on the other hand, showed a sustained hyperpolarization with their spontaneous spike discharge suppressed. The discrete synaptic potentials could hardly be distinguished and, instead, small fluctuations of the membrane potential were observed during the sustained depolarization of both the fast and slow motor neurons. Occasionally, large discrete synaptic potentials could be observed to be superimposed on the sustained depolarization. The occurring frequency of these synaptic potentials showed, however, no significant increase associated with the sustained depolarization. It hence seemed unlikely that these potentials were responsible for producing the sustained depolarization. Their amplitude during the sustained depolarization was smaller than that observed during the quiescent state. The sustained membrane potential change during the fictive abdominal movement was also observed in many neurons other than motor neurons, including local nonspiking interneurons and mechanosensory spiking interneurons. Both motor neurons and interneurons showed a decrease in their membrane resistance during the sustained membrane potential change. We concluded that the sustained depolarization of uropod motor neurons during the fictive abdominal extension was produced by the summation of small chemically transmitted postsynaptic potentials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

scholarly journals Membrane Potentials of the Lobster Giant Axon Obtained by Use of the Sucrose-Gap Technique

1962 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1195-1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred J. Julian ◽  
John W. Moore ◽  
David E. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Sucrose Solution ◽  
Chloride Concentration ◽  
Giant Axon ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Gap Technique ◽  
Sucrose Gap

A method similar to the sucrose-gap technique introduced be Stäpfli is described for measuring membrane potential and current in singly lobster giant axons (diameter about 100 micra). The isotonic sucrose solution used to perfuse the gaps raises the external leakage resistance so that the recorded potential is only about 5 per cent less than the actual membrane potential. However, the resting potential of an axon in the sucrose-gap arrangement is increased 20 to 60 mv over that recorded by a conventional micropipette electrode when the entire axon is bathed in sea water. A complete explanation for this effect has not been discovered. The relation between resting potential and external potassium and sodium ion concentrations shows that potassium carries most of the current in a depolarized axon in the sucrose-gap arrangement, but that near the resting potential other ions make significant contributions. Lowering the external chloride concentration decreases the resting potential. Varying the concentration of the sucrose solution has little effect. A study of the impedance changes associated with the action potential shows that the membrane resistance decreases to a minimum at the peak of the spike and returns to near its initial value before repolarization is complete (a normal lobster giant axon action potential does not have an undershoot). Action potentials recorded simultaneously by the sucrose-gap technique and by micropipette electrodes are practically superposable.

Effects of bethanechol and the octapeptide of cholecystokinin on colonic smooth muscle in the cat

1987 ◽  
Vol 252 (5) ◽  
pp. G654-G661
Author(s):  
W. J. Snape ◽  
S. T. Tan ◽  
H. W. Kao
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Spike Activity ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Wave Pattern ◽  
Isometric Tension ◽  
Muscle Membrane ◽  
Maximum Effect ◽  
Smooth Muscle Membrane

The aim of this study is to compare the action of the cholinergic agonist, bethanechol, with the action of the octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-OP) on feline circular colonic smooth muscle membrane potential and isometric tension, using the double sucrose gap. Depolarization of the membrane greater than 10 mV by K+ or bethanechol increased tension and spontaneous spike activity. CCK-OP (10(-9) M) depolarized the membrane (6.1 +/- 1.3 mV) without an increase in tension or spike activity. Depolarization of the membrane by increasing [K+]o was associated with a decrease in the membrane resistance. The slow-wave duration (2.3 +/- 0.2 s) was unchanged by administration of K+ or bethanechol but was prolonged after increasing concentrations of CCK-OP. The maximum effect occurred at a 10(-10) M concentration of CCK-OP (4.5 +/- 0.4 s, P less than 0.01). At higher concentrations of CCK-OP (greater than 10(-10) M), the slow-wave pattern became disorganized. Addition of increasing concentrations of [K+]o or bethanechol, but not CCK-OP, stimulated a concentration-dependent increase in the maximum rate of rise (dV/dtmax) of an evoked spike potential. These studies suggest 1) bethanechol decreased the membrane potential without altering the slow-wave activity, whereas CCK-OP has a minimal effect on the membrane potential but distorted the slow-wave shape; 2) an increased amplitude of the spike and dV/dtmax of the spike were associated with an increase in phasic contractions after bethanechol or increased [K+]o; 3) the lack of an increase in the spike amplitude and the dV/dtmax to CCK-OP was associated with no increase in phasic contraction.

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