ISSN:
1432-1424
Keywords:
myelinated nerve fiber
;
gating current
;
temperature
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Summary Asymmetrical displacement currents and Na currents of single myelinated nerve fibers ofXenopus laevis were studied in the temperature range from 5 to 24°C. The time constant of the on-response atE=4 mV,τ on, was strongly temperature dependent, whereas the amount of displaced charge atE=39 mV, Qon, was only slightly temperature dependent. The mean Q10 forτ on -1 was 2.54, the mean Q10 for Qon was 1.07. The time constant of charge immobilization,τ i , atE=4 mV varied significantly (α=0.001) with temperature. The mean Q10 forτ i -1 was 2.71±0.38. The time constants of immobilization of gating charge and of fast inactivation of Na permeability were similar in the temperature range from 6 to 22°C. The Qoff/Qon ratio forE=4 mV pulses of 0.5 msec duration decreased with increasing temperature. The temperature dependence of the time constant of the off-response could not be described by a single Q10 value, since the Q10 depended on the duration of the test pulse. Increasing temperature shifted Qon (E) curves to more negative potentials by 0.51 mVK −1, but shiftedP Na (E) curves andh ∞ (E) curves to more positive potentials by 0.43 and 0.57 mV K−1, respectively.h ∞ (E=−70 mV) increased monotonously with increasing temperature. The present data indicate that considerable entropy changes may occur when the Na channel molecule passes from closed through open to inactivated states.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01870958
