J Physiol Wellcome Trust-funded researchers
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


J Physiol Vol 242, Issue 1 pp 35-48
Copyright © 1974 by The Physiological Society
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gorman, A. L. F.
Right arrow Articles by Marmor, M. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Gorman, A. L. F.
Right arrow Articles by Marmor, M. F.

Steady-state contribution of the sodium pump to the resting potential of a molluscan neurone

A. L. F. Gorman and M. F. Marmor

1. The electrogenic contribution of the Na+-K+ exchange pump to the membrane potential of the Anisodoris giant neurone (G cell) was examined under steady-state and Na+ loaded conditions.

2. The membrane potential was variable for the first 1-4 hr after impalement, but, in the absence of experimental manipulation, remained constant thereafter. The average membrane potential for ten cells maintained at 11-13 °C and measured 5-36 hr after impalement was 55·8 ± 1·0 mV (S.E. of mean).

3. Low concentrations of external ACh caused a reversible increase in membrane Na+ conductance. Brief exposure to ACh proved a fast and reversible technique to load the cell with Na+ ions, and transiently stimulate the electrogenic Na+ pump.

4. In ten cells maintained from 5 to 36 hr at 11-13° C the reduction in membrane potential produced by inhibition of the Na+ pump with ouabain was remarkably constant between cells and averaged + 9·7 mV.

5. Cells maintained under steady-state conditions (at 11-13° C) for extended periods of time were shown to be relatively insensitive to changes in temperature and to small changes in external K+.

6. It is estimated that the Na+-K+ exchange pump contributes approximately - 10 mV to the steady-state resting potential of the G cell, and that two Na+ ions are extruded for every K+ ion transported into the cell per pump cycle.







HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1974 The Physiological Society.