scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF ORGANIC IONS ON THE MEMBRANE POTENTIAL OF NERVES

1937 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Wilbrandt
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Sciatic Nerve ◽  
Osmotic Pressure ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Porous Membrane ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Spider Crab ◽  
Nerve Membrane ◽  
Myelinated Nerve ◽  
Organic Ions

1. The effect of osmotic pressure on the nerve resting potential of frog sciatic nerve is in accordance with the assumption of a membrane potential; increased osmotic pressure raises, decreased osmotic pressure lowers the potential. 2. The potential of crab nerves is affected by organic and inorganic cations in the approximate series: Rb > K = diamylamine > dibutylamine > guanidine > tetraethylamine > diethylamine = dimethylamine > dipropylamine > tetramethylamine = choline = Na = Li. 3. The response of the potential to the series of dialkylamines (first decrease, then increase of response ascending in the series) is best understood by the assumption that the nerve membrane is a porous structure. 4. With respect to these salts as well as to other organic cations the dried collodion membrane as a model of a porous membrane shows a striking parallelism to the nerve membrane. 5. Both inorganic and organic anions (NO3, SCN, acetate, propionate, butyrate, lactate, pyruvate) have a definite, if slight, effect in raising the potential of crab nerves. This effect of anions indicates that the nerve membrane is not completely anion impermeable. 6. The effect of organic ions is, with certain restrictions, reversible. Its possible relation to the resting potential and to the after potentials of the electrical disturbance is discussed. 7. The response of the myelinated sciatic nerve of the frog and of the non-myelinated nerve of the spider crab show considerable agreement. There are some definite differences which are, however, not necessarily due to differences of the cell membranes involved, but may be ascribed to the difference of ionic conditions in Ringer and sea water.

scholarly journals STABILIZATION OF SPIDER CRAB NERVE MEMBRANES BY ALKALINE EARTHS, AS MANIFESTED IN RESTING POTENTIAL MEASUREMENTS

1940 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Guttman
Keyword(s):  
Chloral Hydrate ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Spider Crab ◽  
Sulfate Concentration ◽  
Water Solutions ◽  
Organic Ions ◽  
Hypertonic Solutions ◽  
Alkaline Earths

1. The alkaline earths, Ba, Sr, Ca, and Mg, in isotonic solutions of their chlorides, have, in general, no effect upon the resting potential of non-medullated spider crab nerve. 2. Ba, Sr, and Ca can, however, prevent the depressing action of K upon the resting potential. The order of effectiveness of these ions in this regard is the following: Ba > Sr > Ca. 3. Ba, Sr, Ca, and Mg oppose the depressing action of veratrine sulfate upon the resting potential. The order of effectiveness is Ba > Sr > Ca > Mg. The relation between drop in potential caused by veratrine sulfate and the logarithm of the veratrine sulfate concentration is a linear one. 4. The action of various other organic ions and molecules which depress the resting potential: saponin, amyl urethane, chloral hydrate, and Na salicylate is neutralized by Ba. 5. Hypertonic sea water solutions do not affect the resting potential. Also, preliminary experiments indicate that the nerves do not shrink in hypertonic solutions although they swell in hypotonic sea water. 6. The alkaline earths depress excitability reversibly. The various organic agents which depress the resting potential also depress excitability, in most cases, reversibly, but the concentrations necessary to depress excitability are much smaller than those necessary to depress the resting potential. 7. The relation of these findings to theories put forward as possible explanations of resting potential phenomena is considered.

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.

Über die Bedeutung paranodaler Strukturen für die Impulsregeneration am Ranvier’schen Schnürring / About the Importance of Paranodal Structures of the Ranvier Node for the Impulse Regeneration

1975 ◽  
Vol 30 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 271-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmuth Müller-Mohnssen ◽  
Armin Tippe ◽  
Franz Hillenkamp ◽  
Eberhard Unsold
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Laser Pulses ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Ranvier Node ◽  
Myelinated Nerve ◽  
Axon Membrane ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Membrane Resting Potential ◽  
Pulse Regeneration ◽  
New Hypothesis

Abstract The site of the pulse regeneration in myelinated nerve is generally assumed to be the unmyelinated part of the axon membrane in the Ranvier node. To check this, a micro-irradiation technique using laser pulses (λ = 347 nm, t = 2 0 ns) was used to produce morphological lesions of about 1 /(m diameter in various regions of the Ranvier node. The electro-physiological functions were monitored parallel to the irradiation. Depending on the localization of the lesions two types of changes in these functions were observed: 1. If a definite site in the paranodal myelin sheath was damaged without affecting the axon, an action potential could no longer be elicited, although the resting potential as well as the stationary current-voltage behaviour remained unchanged. 2. A damage of the axon resulted in a break down of membrane potential and resistance. In most of the cases the excitability recovered after spontaneous or current induced restitution of the membrane resting potential and resistance. These observations indicate, that structures in the paranodal region are vital for the Na+-activation and inactivation. The membrane potential and stationary current-voltage behaviour can be attributed to the axon membrane. A new hypothesis concerning the mechanism of the Na+-activationinactivation process is suggested

scholarly journals Ionic mechanism of the fertilization potential of the marine worm, Urechis caupo (Echiura).

1979 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
L A Jaffe ◽  
M Gould-Somero ◽  
L Holland
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Initial Level ◽  
Maximum Amplitude ◽  
Absolute Magnitude ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Ionic Mechanism ◽  
Urechis Caupo ◽  
Gated Channel ◽  
Egg Membrane

Microelectrode and tracer flux studies of the Urechis egg during fertilization have shown: (a) insemination causes a fertilization potential; the membrane potential rises from an initial level of -33 +/- 6 mV to a peak at +51 +/- 6 mV (n = 16), falls to a plateau of about +30 mV, then returns to the original resting potential 9 +/- 1 min (n - 10) later; (b) the fertilization potential results from an increase in Na+ permeability, which is amplified during the first 15 s by a Ca++ action potential; (c) the maximum amplitude of the fertilization potential, excluding the first 15 s, changes by 51 mV for a 10-fold change in external [Na+]; (d) in the 10 min period after insemination, both Na+ and Ca++ influxes increase relative to unfertilized egg values by factors of 17 +/- 7 (n = 6) and 34 +/- 14 (n = 4), respectively; the absolute magnitude of the Na+ influx is 16 +/- 6 times larger than that of Ca++; (e) in the absence of sperm these same electrical and ionic events are elicited by trypsin; thus, the ion channels responsible must preexist in the unfertilized egg membrane; (f) increased Na+ influx under conditions of experimentally induced polyspermy indicates that during normal monospermic fertilization, only a fraction of available Na+ channels are opened; we conclude that these channels are sperm-gated; (g) Ca++ influx at fertilization is primarily via the membrane potential-gated channel, because kinetics are appropriate, and influx depends on potential in solutions of varying [Na+], but is independent of number of sperm incorporations in normal sea water.

Effects of ouabain on background and voltage-dependent currents in canine colonic myocytes

1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (3) ◽  
pp. C402-C408 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. Burke ◽  
K. M. Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Potential Gradient ◽  
Circular Muscle ◽  
Input Resistance ◽  
Pump Current ◽  
Muscle Layer ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
In Cells

Previous studies have suggested that the membrane potential gradient across the circular muscle layer of the canine proximal colon is due to a gradient in the contribution of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Cells at the submucosal border generate approximately 35 mV of pump potential, whereas at the myenteric border the pump contributes very little to resting potential. Results from experiments in intact muscles in which the pump is blocked are somewhat difficult to interpret because of possible effects of pump inhibitors on membrane conductances. Therefore, we studied isolated colonic myocytes to test the effects of ouabain on passive membrane properties and voltage-dependent currents. Ouabain (10(-5) M) depolarized cells and decreased input resistance from 0.487 +/- 0.060 to 0.292 +/- 0.040 G omega. The decrease in resistance was attributed to an increase in K+ conductance. Studies were also performed to measure the ouabain-dependent current. At 37 degrees C, in cells dialyzed with 19 mM intracellular Na+ concentration [( Na+]i), ouabain caused an inward current averaging 71.06 +/- 7.49 pA, which was attributed to blockade of pump current. At 24 degrees C or in cells dialyzed with low [Na+]i (11 mM), ouabain caused little change in holding current. With the input resistance of colonic cells, pump current appears capable of generating at least 35 mV. Thus an electrogenic Na+ pump could contribute significantly to membrane potential.

Transmembrane Activity Gradients of K and cl in the Muscle Fibres of Osmoconforming Marine Decapod Crustaceans

1978 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-140
Author(s):  
ROBERT W. FREEL
Keyword(s):  
Sea Water ◽  
Membrane Potentials ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Muscle Fibres ◽  
Salinity Adaptation ◽  
Decapod Crustaceans ◽  
Marine Crustaceans ◽  
Equilibrium Distributions

1. The resting membrane potentials (Em) and the transmembrane activity gradients for K and Cl were measured in the muscle fibres of osmoconforming (Callianassa and Cancer) and weakly osmoregulating (Pachygrapsus) marine crustaceans acclimated to various osmotic conditions. 2. The muscle membranes of sea water acclimated crabs behave as good K electrodes. However, a slight contribution of Na to the resting potential was demonstrated in all species. The ratio PNa/PK was about 0.01. Equilibrium potentials (measured with ion-selective microelectrodes) for Cl were equal to Em, while EK was always more negative than Em as a result of the slight Na contribution. 3. Acclimation to dilute or concentrated sea water had little effect on the K electrode properties or Na permeabilities of these fibres. The muscle fibres were depolarized in crabs acclimated to concentrated sea water and were hyperpolarized in crabs adapted to dilute sea water. These changes resulted solely from alterations in (aK)i/ (aK)O which were in turn brought about by changes in cellular and haemolymph hydration. 4. Since the Na contribution to Em was so small in all conditions, it was concluded that the distributions of K and Cl are best considered in terms of Donnan equilibria, and that the cellular K and Cl adjustments observed during salinity adaptation reflect the passive re-establishment of new equilibrium distributions for these ions.

Beta-adrenergic actions on membrane electrical properties of dissociated smooth muscle cells

1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (3) ◽  
pp. C423-C431 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Yamaguchi ◽  
T. W. Honeyman ◽  
F. S. Fay
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Input Resistance ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Beta Adrenergic

Studies were carried out to determine the effects of the beta-adrenergic agent, isoproterenol (ISO), on membrane electrical properties in single smooth muscle cells enzymatically dispersed from toad stomach. In cells bathed in buffer of physiological composition, the average resting potential was -56.4 +/- 1.4 mV (mean +/- SE, n = 35). The dominant effect of exposure to ISO was hyperpolarization. The hyperpolarization was apparent in all cells studied and averaged 11.6 +/- 1.2 mV (n = 27). In the majority of the cells, hyperpolarization was accompanied by a decreased input resistance (Rin). Often the change in resistance appeared to lag behind the change in membrane potential. The lack of coincident changes in membrane potential and resistance may reflect a superposition of the outward rectification properties of the membrane on beta-adrenergic-induced increases in ionic conductance. In about half of the cells, an initial small depolarization (3.1 +/- 0.3 mV, n = 14) was accompanied by a small but distinct increase in Rin (12 +/- 2.5%). When membrane potential was made more negative than the estimated equilibrium potential for K+ (EK) by injection of current, ISO also produced biphasic effects, an initial hyperpolarization which reversed to a sustained depolarization to a value (-90 mV) near the estimated EK. The hyperpolarization by ISO could be diminished in a time-dependent manner by previous exposure to ouabain. The inhibition by ouabain, however, appeared to be a fortuitous result of glycoside-induced positive shifts in EK. These observations indicate that the dominant electrophysiological effect of beta-adrenergic stimuli is to hyperpolarize the cell membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hyperpolarization-Activated Inward Current in Neurons of the Rat's Dorsal Nucleus of the Lateral Lemniscus In Vitro

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 2235-2245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Wen Fu ◽  
Borys L. Brezden ◽  
Shu Hui Wu
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Input Resistance ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Extracellular Potassium ◽  
Current Clamp ◽  
Lateral Lemniscus ◽  
Inward Current ◽  
Dorsal Nucleus ◽  
Maximal Activation

Fu, Xiao Wen, Borys L. Brezden, and Shu Hui Wu. Hyperpolarization-activated inward current in neurons of the rat's dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus in vitro. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 2235–2245, 1997. The hyperpolarization-activated current ( I h) underlying inward rectification in neurons of the rat's dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL) was investigated using whole cell patch-clamp techniques. Patch recordings were made from DNLL neurons of young rats (21–30 days old) in 400 μm tissue slices. Under current clamp, injection of negative current produced a graded hyperpolarization of the cell membrane, often with a gradual sag in the membrane potential toward the resting value. The rate and magnitude of the sag depended on the amount of hyperpolarizing current. Larger current resulted in a larger and faster decay of the voltage. Under voltage clamp, hyperpolarizing voltage steps elicited a slowly activating inward current that was presumably responsible for the sag observed in the voltage response to a steady hyperpolarizing current recorded under current clamp. Activation of the inward current ( I h) was voltage and time dependent. The current just was seen at a membrane potential of −70 mV and was activated fully at −140 mV. The voltage value of half-maximal activation of I h was −78.0 ± 6.0 (SE) mV. The rate of I h activation was best approximated by a single exponential function with a time constant that was voltage dependent, ranging from 276 ± 27 ms at −100 mV to 186 ± 11 ms at −140 mV. Reversal potential ( E h) of I h current was more positive than the resting potential. Raising the extracellular potassium concentration shifted E h to a more depolarized value, whereas lowering the extracellular sodium concentration shifted E h in a more negative direction. I h was sensitive to extracellular cesium but relatively insensitive to extracellular barium. The current amplitude near maximal-activation (about −140 mV) was reduced to 40% of control by 1 mM cesium but was reduced to only 71% of control by 2 mM barium. When the membrane potential was near the resting potential (about −60 mV), cesium had no effect on the membrane potential, current-evoked firing rate and input resistance but reduced the spontaneous firing. When the membrane potential was more negative than −70 mV, cesium hyperpolarized the cell, decreased current-evoked firing and increased the input resistance. I h in DNLL neurons does not contribute to the normal resting potential but may enhance the extent of excitation, thereby making the DNLL a consistently powerful inhibitory source to upper levels of the auditory system.

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