scholarly journals Numerical investigation of action potential transmission in plants

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Pietruszka ◽  
Krystyna Pazurkiewicz-Kocot

In context of a fairly concise review of recent literature and well established experimental results we reconsider the problem of action potential propagating steadily down the plant cell(s). Having adopted slightly modified Hodgkin-Huxley set of differential equations for the action potential we carried out the numerical investigation of these equations in the course of time. We argue that the Hodgkin-Huxley-Katz model for the nerve impulse can be used to describe the phenomena which take place in plants - this point of view seems to be plausible since the mechanisms involving active ionic transport across membranes from the mathematical point of view are similar. Besides, we compare in a qualitative way our theoretical outcomes with typical experimental results for the action potentials which arise as the reaction of plants to electrical, mechanical and light stimuli. Moreover, we point out the relevance of the sequence of events during the pulse with the appropriate ionic fluxes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Rabinovitch ◽  
Y. Biton ◽  
D. Braunstein ◽  
I. Aviram ◽  
R. Thieberger ◽  
...  

AbstractIn the last several years, quite a few papers on the joint question of transport, tortuosity and percolation have appeared in the literature, dealing with passage of miscellaneous liquids or electrical currents in different media. However, these methods have not been applied to the passage of action potential in heart fibrosis (HF), which is crucial for problems of heart arrhythmia, especially of atrial tachycardia and fibrillation. In this work we address the HF problem from these aspects. A cellular automaton model is used to analyze percolation and transport of a distributed-fibrosis inflicted heart-like tissue. Although based on a rather simple mathematical model, it leads to several important outcomes: (1) It is shown that, for a single wave front (as the one emanated by the heart's sinus node), the percolation of heart-like matrices is exactly similar to the forest fire case. (2) It is shown that, on the average, the shape of the transport (a question not dealt with in relation to forest fire, and deals with the delay of action potential when passing a fibrotic tissue) behaves like a Gaussian. (3) Moreover, it is shown that close to the percolation threshold the parameters of this Gaussian behave in a critical way. From the physical point of view, these three results are an important contribution to the general percolation investigation. The relevance of our results to cardiological issues, specifically to the question of reentry initiation, are discussed and it is shown that: (A) Without an ectopic source and under a mere sinus node operation, no arrhythmia is generated, and (B) A sufficiently high refractory period could prevent some reentry mechanisms, even in partially fibrotic heart tissue.


2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 4430-4440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofija Andjelic ◽  
Vincent Torre

Calcium dynamics in leech neurons were studied using a fast CCD camera. Fluorescence changes (Δ F/ F) of the membrane impermeable calcium indicator Oregon Green were measured. The dye was pressure injected into the soma of neurons under investigation. Δ F/ F caused by a single action potential (AP) in mechanosensory neurons had approximately the same amplitude and time course in the soma and in distal processes. By contrast, in other neurons such as the Anterior Pagoda neuron, the Annulus Erector motoneuron, the L motoneuron, and other motoneurons, APs evoked by passing depolarizing current in the soma produced much larger fluorescence changes in distal processes than in the soma. When APs were evoked by stimulating one distal axon through the root, Δ F/ F was large in all distal processes but very small in the soma. Our results show a clear compartmentalization of calcium dynamics in most leech neurons in which the soma does not give propagating action potentials. In such cells, the soma, while not excitable, can affect information processing by modulating the sites of origin and conduction of AP propagation in distal excitable processes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 3666-3676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Xia Zhang ◽  
Liu Lin Thio

Although extracellular Zn2+ is an endogenous biphasic modulator of strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors (GlyRs), the physiological significance of this modulation remains poorly understood. Zn2+ modulation of GlyR may be especially important in the hippocampus where presynaptic Zn2+ is abundant. Using cultured embryonic mouse hippocampal neurons, we examined whether 1 μM Zn2+, a potentiating concentration, enhances the inhibitory effects of GlyRs activated by sustained glycine applications. Sustained 20 μM glycine (EC25) applications alone did not decrease the number of action potentials evoked by depolarizing steps, but they did in 1 μM Zn2+. At least part of this effect resulted from Zn2+ enhancing the GlyR-induced decrease in input resistance. Sustained 20 μM glycine applications alone did not alter neuronal bursting, a form of hyperexcitability induced by omitting extracellular Mg2+. However, sustained 20 μM glycine applications depressed neuronal bursting in 1 μM Zn2+. Zn2+ did not enhance the inhibitory effects of sustained 60 μM glycine (EC70) applications in these paradigms. These results suggest that tonic GlyR activation could decrease neuronal excitability. To test this possibility, we examined the effect of the GlyR antagonist strychnine and the Zn2+ chelator tricine on action potential firing by CA1 pyramidal neurons in mouse hippocampal slices. Co-applying strychnine and tricine slightly but significantly increased the number of action potentials fired during a depolarizing current step and decreased the rheobase for action potential firing. Thus Zn2+ may modulate neuronal excitability normally and in pathological conditions such as seizures by potentiating GlyRs tonically activated by low agonist concentrations.


1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (3) ◽  
pp. H341-H350
Author(s):  
C. H. Conrad ◽  
R. G. Mark ◽  
O. H. Bing

We studied the effects of brief periods (20-30 min) of hypoxia in the presence of 5 and 50 mM glucose and of glycolytic blockade (10(-4) M iodoacetic acid, IAA) on action potentials, membrane currents, and mechanical activity in rat ventricular papillary muscles using a single sucrose gap voltage-clamp technique. Steady-state outward current (iss) was determined at the end of a 500-ms clamp to the test potential following a 600-ms clamp to a holding potential of -50 mV. In the presence of 5 mM glucose, hypoxia resulted in a decrease in action potential duration (APD) and an increase in iss (on the order of 60% at 0 mV) over the potential range studied. The increase in iss did not appear to be due to an increase in leakage current or to a change in the cable properties of the preparation. Addition of 50 mM glucose prevented the change in both APD and iss with hypoxia. In addition, glycolytic blockade with IAA did not alter iss in the presence of oxygen. We conclude that an increase in iss appears to be a major factor in the abbreviation of rat ventricular action potential seen with hypoxia. Glycolysis appears to be a sufficient (with 50 mM glucose) but not necessary source of energy for the maintenance of normal iss.


Author(s):  
Erik Kuhn

This article deals with the observed reactions of a lubricating grease to tribological stress. An attempt is made to find the driving forces describe that are responsible for the intrinsic response. From these considerations, a new research paradigm is derived that leaves the traditional observation point of view. The investigations are illustrated with experimental results.


1974 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 653-671
Author(s):  
D. B. SATTELLE

1. A mean resting potential of -53.3 (S.D. ±2.7) mV has been obtained for 23 neurones of the parietal and visceral ganglia of Limnaea stagnalis (L.). Changes in the resting potential of between 28 and 43 mV accompany tenfold changes in [K+0]. A modified constant-field equation accounts for the behaviour of most cells over the range of external potassium concentrations from 0-5 to 10.o mM/1. Mean values have been estimated for [K+1, 56.2 (S.D.± 9-0) mM/1 and PNa/PK, 0-117 (S.D.±0-028). 2. Investigations on the ionic basis of action potential generation have revealed two cell types which can be distinguished according to the behaviour of their action potentials in sodium-free Ringer. Sodium-sensitive cells are unable to support action potentials for more than 8-10 min in the absence of sodium. Sodium slopes of between 29 and 37 mV per decade change in [Na+0] have been found for these cells. Tetrodotoxin (5 x 10-5 M) usually blocks action potentials in these neurones. Calcium-free inger produces a marked reduction in the overshoot potential and calcium slopes of about 18 mV per decade change in [Ca2+o] are found. Manganous chloride only partially reduces the action potential overshoot in these cells at concentrations of 10 mM/l. 3. Sodium-insensitive neurones maintain action potentials in the absence of external sodium. Stimulation only slightly reduces the amplitude of the action potential under these conditions and such cells are readily accessible to potassium ions in the bathing medium. A calcium-slope of 29 mV per decade change in [Ca2+o] has been observed in these cells in the absence of external sodium. 4. It is concluded that both sodium and calcium ions can be involved in the generation of the action potential in neurones of Limnaea stagnate, their relative contribution varying in different cells.


1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 408-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dax A. Hoffman ◽  
Daniel Johnston

Hoffman, Dax A. and Daniel Johnston. Neuromodulation of dendritic action potentials. J. Neurophysiol. 81: 408–411, 1999. The extent to which regenerative action potentials invade hippocampal CA1 pyramidal dendrites is dependent on both recent activity and distance from the soma. Previously, we have shown that the amplitude of back-propagating dendritic action potentials can be increased by activating either protein kinase A (PKA) or protein kinase C (PKC) and a subsequent depolarizing shift in the activation curve for dendritic K+ channels. Physiologically, an increase in intracellular PKA and PKC would be expected upon activation of β-adrenergic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, respectively. Accordingly, we report here that activation of either of these neurotransmitter systems results in an increase in dendritic action-potential amplitude. Activation of the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system, which is also expected to raise intracellular adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and PKA levels, increased action-potential amplitude in only a subpopulation of neurons tested.


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (2) ◽  
pp. H826-H833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiko Tanabe ◽  
Toshio Hata ◽  
Masayasu Hiraoka

To explore a possible ionic basis for the prolonged Q-T interval in women compared with that in men, we investigated the electrophysiological effects of estrogen in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Action potentials and membrane currents were recorded using the whole cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Application of 17β-estradiol (10–30 μM) significantly prolonged the action potential duration (APD) at 20% (APD20) and 90% repolarization (APD90) at stimulation rates of 0.1–2.0 Hz. In the presence of 30 μM 17β-estradiol, APD20 and APD90 at 0.1 Hz were prolonged by 46.2 ± 17.1 and 63.4 ± 11.7% of the control ( n = 5), respectively. In the presence of 30 μM 17β-estradiol the peak inward Ca2+ current ( I CaL) was decreased to 80.1 ± 2.5% of the control ( n = 4) without a shift in its voltage dependence. Application of 30 μM 17β-estradiol decreased the rapidly activating component of the delayed outward K+ current ( I Kr) to 63.4 ± 8% and the slowly activating component ( I Ks) to 65.8 ± 8.7% with respect to the control; the inward rectifier K+ current was barely affected. The results suggest that 17β-estradiol prolonged APD mainly by inhibiting the I Kcomponents I Krand I Ks.


1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (6) ◽  
pp. H1157-H1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Wasserstrom ◽  
J. J. Salata

We studied the effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX) and lidocaine on transmembrane action potentials and ionic currents in dog isolated ventricular myocytes. TTX (0.1-1 x 10(-5) M) and lidocaine (0.5-2 x 10(-5) M) decreased action potential duration, but only TTX decreased the maximum rate of depolarization (Vmax). Both TTX (1-2 x 10(-5) M) and lidocaine (2-5 x 10(-5) M) blocked a slowly inactivating toward current in the plateau voltage range. The voltage- and time-dependent characteristics of this current are virtually identical to those described in Purkinje fibers for the slowly inactivating inward Na+ current. In addition, TTX abolished the outward shift in net current at plateau potentials caused by lidocaine alone. Lidocaine had no detectable effect on the slow inward Ca2+ current and the inward K+ current rectifier, Ia. Our results indicate that 1) there is a slowly inactivating inward Na+ current in ventricular cells similar in time, voltage, and TTX sensitivity to that described in Purkinje fibers; 2) both TTX and lidocaine shorten ventricular action potentials by reducing this slowly inactivating Na+ current; 3) lidocaine has no additional actions on other ionic currents that contribute to its ability to abbreviate ventricular action potentials; and 4) although both agents shorten the action potential by the same mechanism, only TTX reduces Vmax. This last point suggests that TTX produces tonic block of Na+ current, whereas lidocaine may produce state-dependent Na+ channel block, namely, blockade of Na+ current only after Na+ channels have already been opened (inactivated-state block).


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