Membrane potentials of the squid giant axon recorded with an inserted antimony microelectrode

Résumé Les enregistrements pris simultanément des axones géants deLoligo au moyen de microélectrodes de KCl et de l'antimoine donnent à peu près les mêmes valeurs pour le potentiel de repos et pour la pointe. Les deux microélectrodes enregistrent d'une façon identique les changements de potentiel de la membrane pendant la dépolarisation avec KCl et pendant la restitution. Bien que les microélectrodes de Sb restent toujours réversibles à H⁺, les potentiels enregistrés ne correspondent pas à la distribution de H⁺. Ces données, comme d'autres, indiquent que le potentiel de repos n'est pas une conséquence des distributions deDonnan, mais plutôt, selon toute probabilité, un effet des propriétés de la membrane électrogène.

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This work was carried out at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., with a grant under MBL contract (Nonr-09705). Additional aid was received from American Philosophical Society, Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, National Science Foundation and United Cerebral Palsy Associations.     

Penetration of phospholipases A2 and C into the squid (Loligo pealii) giant axon

Summary Following 1 h exposure, the level of phospholipase A₂ penetration into the axoplasm of the squid giant axon was 107 to 350% of that in the external media; corresponding values for phospholipase C were 18 to 31%. Phospholipases can therefore be used to study phospholipid function in axons since they can penetrate through connective tissue and Schwann cell to reach the axolemma.I thank Dr.Toshio Narahashi for allowing me to use his laboratory facilities at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass. for the dissection of squid axons. Expert technical assistance in these studies were provided by Mr.Steven Trudel and Mr.Stuart Owen Rosenberg. This work was supported in part by a grant from the University of Connecticut Research Foundation.     

Penetration of phospholipases A2 and C into the squid (Loligo pealii) giant axon.

Following 1 h exposure, the level of phospholipase A2 penetration into the axoplasm of the squid giant axon was 107 to 350% of that in the external media; corresponding values for phospholipase C were 18 to 31%. Phospholipases can therefore be used to study phospholipid function in axons since they can penetrate through connective tissue and Schwann cell to reach the axolemma.     

Voltage-clamp analysis of the sodium and potassium currents in skeletal muscle fibres treated with 4-aminopyridine

Summary External application of low concentrations of 4-aminopyridine blocks potassium currents without affecting sodium currents in pieces of single frog skeletal muscle fibres. The blockade of potassium currents was voltage-dependent, being partially relieved on depolarization.This study was supported by a grant from the Oficina técnica de Desarrollo Cientifico of the University of Chile (Project 4437-R, 1977).     

Cardiac calcium currents at the level of single channels

Properties of cardiac Ca channels have come into sharper focus with the advent of single cell preparations and suction pipette recording methods. We briefly summarize our present picture of the gating and permeation properties of the conventional, dihydropyridine-sensitive type of Ca channel (L-type). Distinctive features of a second type of voltage-gated Ca channel (T-type) are discussed.     

Two serotonin-sensitive potassium channels in the identified heart excitatory neurone of the African giant snail,Achatina fulica Fèrussac

Summary By the patch clamp experiments, two serotonin-sensitive K⁺ channels (SL-channel and SS-channel) were demonstrated in the identified heart excitatory neurone (PON) of the African giant snail,Achatina fulica Fèrussac. The activities of both channels could be recorded in the steady state and those activities disappeared on application of 5-HT.     

Two serotonin-sensitive potassium channels in the identified heart excitatory neurone of the African giant snail, Achatina fulica Fèrussac

By the patch clamp experiments, two serotonin-sensitive K+ channels (SL-channel and SS-channel) were demonstrated in the identified heart excitatory neurone (PON) of the African giant snail, Achatina fulica Fèrussac. The activities of both channels could be recorded in the steady state and those activities disappeared on application of 5-HT.     

4-aminopyridine and barium chloride attenuate the anti-epileptic effect of carbamazepine in hippocampal slices

The exact mode of action of the anti-epileptic agent carbamazepine is unknown. In hippocampal slices in which epileptiform discharges were induced by addition of penicillin to the perfusion medium, the depressant effect of carbamazepine was attenuated by the potassium-channel blockers barium chloride (0.1 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (200 microM), which suggested that potassium fluxes might be involved in the mechanism of action of carbamazepine.     

Radioimmunologic assay of plasma corticotropin in the green frog, Rana esculenta L.]

In the green Frog (Rana esculenta) the plasma contains a polypeptide immunologically related to human and porcine corticotropins. A radiommunoassay capable of detecting 4.10-12 g hog ACTH has been used for a direct plasma ACTH assay in the Frog. Using this method, the ACTH rate was determined both in untreated frogs and in animals under various experimental conditions.     

Uptake of alanine,phenylalanine and tyrosine by L1210 cells at 4°C: Possible effect of lipid solubility

Résumé L'introduction d'un groupe phényl facilite grandement le transfert del-alanine tandis que l'hydroxylation du groupe phényl diminue la facilité de transfert.

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Supported in part by a grant from Charles H. Hood Dairy Foundation. I thank Dr.John J. McCormack, and Dr.A. H. Schein, University of Vermont, for helpful discussions.     

Electrophysiological characteristics ofBombyx mori L. ventral nerve cord (effect of sodium and potassium on the membrane potential)

Summary Na⁺ and K⁺ effects on the resting cellular membrane potential of desheathed ganglia of theBombyx mori L. ventral nerve cord have been studied. The cells are depolarized by high concentrations of external potassium ions in the same way as in vertebrates, mollusca and crustacean cells. The possibility that the behaviour of the resting potential is not only influenced by the potassium equilibrium potential, but also by the conductances to other ions, is discussed.The authors are indebted to Prof V. Capraro, Drs B. Giordana and F. Sacchi for helpful comments and criticism.     

The effect of diets on the utilization of the food by the African giant snail,Achatina fulica bowdich

Zusammenfassung Eine spezielle Diät (Stärke oder Fleisch) induziert keine Adaptation inAchatina fulica in dem Sinn, dass mehr Kohlehydrate, bzw. Proteine resorbiert werden als mit normalem Futter.     

Calorigenic effect of noradrenaline in the norwegian lemming,Lemmus lemmus (L.)

Zusammenfassung Der kalorigene Effekt des Noradrenalins wurde beiLemmus lemmus L. untersucht. Die Hälfte der Tiere wurde bei Kälte (0 °C) und die andere Hälfte bei Wärme (30 °C) akklimatisiert. Beide Gruppen zeigten nach NA-Injektion Übereinstimmung auch hinsichtlich der freien Fettsäuren.