Abstract
A MOLECULAR mechanism which develops multivibrator kinetics such as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has been constructed in experimental bimolecular lipid membranes by the methods given here. These electrokinetic phenomena are indistinguishable from cellular action potentials and include thresholds, refractoriness, delayed rectification, bistable flip-flop kinetics, anodal break excitation, self-regenerative changes of membrane potential accompanied by decreases in conductance, and spontaneous rhythmic firing, the frequency of which can be precisely controlled by varying the temperature and the applied electrical polarization. They are also reversibly blocked by local anaesthetics such as cocaine at physiological concentrations (2 per cent) and are modified in various ways by acridine and phenothiazine derivatives including chlorpromazine at concentrations of about 1 γ/c.c.
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References
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MUELLER, P., RUDIN, D. Action Potential Phenomena in Experimental Bimolecular Lipid Membranes. Nature 213, 603–604 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/213603a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/213603a0
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