Osmometrically determined characteristics of the cell membrane of squid and lobster giant axons

Contributions of various ions to the resting and action potentials of crayfish medial giant axons

The membrane of crayfish medial giant axons is permeable at rest to ions in the rank K>Na>Ca>Cl. With K present, variation of the other ions has little or no effect, but with K absent the axon hyperpolarizes when Na is reduced or eliminated by replacement with Tris (slope ca. 30 mV/decade Na0). The hyperpolarization is independent of the presence of Cl or its absence (substitution with methanesulfonate or isethionate). The resistance increases progressively as Na is removed. These changes persist after the spike is blocked with tetrodotoxin. An increase in Ca causes depolarization (slope ca. 20 mV/decade) provided K, Na and Cl are all absent, but in the presence of Cl there is little or no change in membrane potential on increasing Ca to 150MM. The depolarization induced by Ca is associated with an increased resistance. Spike electrogenesis involves Ca activation as well as Na activation, but the after-depolarization at the end of the spike is due to a conductance increase for Ca. Two alternative equivalent circuits for the resting and active membrane are discussed.

Gender does not influence neuromuscular properties in dimorphic skeletal muscles of the toad

The aim of this work was to study gender differences on the physiology of the dimorphic brachial musculature involved in the clasp reflex of the toad (Bufo marinus L.). The neuromuscular transmission, the sensitivity to acetylcholine (ACh) and the cholinesterase activity were compared on the forelimb sternoradialis muscles (SR) from male and female toads. The interosseous muscles of the first finger were used to compare the properties of the nicotinic receptor/ionic channel complex (AChR). All the muscles studied were dimorphic, i.e. significantly smaller in the female than in the male frog in otherwise similar size animals. The SR of either sex contracted to bath application of ACh with similar EC50. In physiological solution the frequency of the miniature end-plate potentials (mepps) was very low (0.1 s-1) and no gender difference was detected. The mepp amplitudes were 0.62 +/- 0.03 and 0.58 +/- 0.03 mV in SR from male and female toads, respectively. To increase exocytosis the muscles were incubated in hypertonic solution (158 mM NaCl). Under this condition mepp frequency was increased by five and seven times and mepp amplitude increased by 1.3 and 1.6 times in SR from male and female toads, respectively. The cholinesterase activity measured by the colorimetric method, did not differ in SR from male and female toads. In muscle fibers dissociated from the dimorphic interosseous muscles of male and female toads, the ionic channel conductance was 43 +/- 5.3 and 44 +/- 4.5 pS, respectively. The mean channel open time was voltage-dependent and not significantly different in preparations from both genders. These observations indicate that neither the ACh-nicotinic receptor interaction, nor the AChR complex kinetics and the nicotinic excitation-contraction coupling or the cholinesterase activity differ in dimorphic muscles from Bufo genders. No gender difference was detected in neuromuscular transmission of the studied muscle. Only a slight increase in mepp frequency and amplitude could be detected when the muscles were incubated in hypertonic solution.

Effect of lymph composition on an in vitro preparation of the alligator lizard cochlea

The effects of different artificial lymphs on the cochlear duct of the alligator lizard were studied in an in vitro preparation. The duct was dissected and cemented to the glass floor of a chamber that had been filled with an artificial lymph. The vestibular membrane was removed and latex beads (1-5 microns in diameter) were allowed to settle on the endolymphatic surface of the duct. During perfusion with an artificial lymph solution, the positions of beads were measured and video images of the duct were obtained. Artificial lymphs were isosmotic and included artificial endolymph (AE), artificial perilymph (AP), Leibovitz's L-15 culture medium, an AE solution whose calcium concentration was the same as that of AP, and AE and AP solutions in which gluconate was substituted for chloride ions. Results obtained in AE were consistently different from those in other lymphs. The displacements of beads, the projected area of the papilla, the occurrence of blebs, and direct observation of cells in the duct all indicated that the tissue swelled in AE (with or without 2 mmol/l Ca) but showed no consistent shrinking or swelling in any of the other artificial lymphs. Thus for the solutions we used, the presence of both potassium and chloride was required to elicit the swelling response to isosmotic artificial lymphs. There were some regional differences in the swelling response: the swelling of the endolymphatic surface of the tissue in a direction orthogonal to the basilar membrane surface was smaller on the free-standing region of the basilar papilla than either on the tectorial membrane or on the hyaline epithelial cells. The preparation was osmotically stable in AP and in both AE and AP solutions in which gluconate was substituted for chloride ions. After exposure to these solutions for as much as 300 min, the preparation showed no gross signs of deterioration visible with the light microscope, and continued to exhibit a highly specific osmotic response to the composition of the bathing medium.

Organelle dynamics in lobster axons: anterograde, retrograde and stationary mitochondria

Mitochondria in isolated motor axons from the walking legs of lobster were observed with differential interference contrast optics and video microscopic techniques. Movements of the mitochondria were analyzed in time-lapse videotape records. The mean velocity of transport in the retrograde direction (1.33 +/- 0.64 micron/s) was greater than the mean velocity of transport in the anterograde direction (0.72 +/- 0.26 micron/s). The mean lengths of the mitochondria moving in the retrograde and anterograde directions were only slightly different (6.9 microns and 5.5 microns, respectively). No correlation was found between mitochondrial length and average velocity or reciprocal velocity. The instantaneous velocities of mitochondria were distributed over a range of approximately 3 micron/s; both the anterograde and retrograde distributions contained a small proportion of values whose sign was opposite to the modal value. The variation in instantaneous velocity took place at frequencies close to 0.1 Hz. Some mitochondria displayed longitudinally oriented oscillatory movements of a similar low frequency. While the movement of most mitochondria was parallel to the axis of the axon, transverse deviations and complex circular paths were sometimes observed. Some mitochondria reversed their orientation and continued in the same direction, so that the end which had been the leading end became the trailing end. Many mitochondria immediately beneath the plasma membrane were stationary and adhered strongly to the plasma membrane when the axoplasmic structure was disrupted. In electron micrographs, fine strands connected peripheral mitochondria and the plasma membrane. These strands may anchor the stationary mitochondria to the plasma membrane.

Osmotic properties of the squid giant axon and their modifications

Volume and morphological changes of the squid giant axons in response to hyper- and hypoosmotic media were examined. In hyperosmotic media, which were made by adding sucrose or sodium chloride to the artificial seawater, the axons behaved approximately as ideal osmometers. The fraction of the osmotically inactive volume was less than 0.05. In hypoosmotic media down to half the osmolality of the artificial seawater, intact squid axons did not show significant volume increases. However, following a combined treatment with hyaluronidase and collagenase, the volume of the squid axons increased in these hypoosmotic media. A wrinkled pattern appeared on the surface of the axons while they were in hyperosmotic media containing excess NaCl or KCl. Trypsin treatment prevented appearance of this surface pattern. Furthermore, no such patterns appeared in media which were made hyperosmotic by the addition of sucrose or sodium glutamate.

Co2+ and Mn2+ uptake by crab nerve fibers in resting state and potassium depolarization

Transition metal ions, Mn2+ and Co2+, are incorporated into nerve fibers when they are applied externally. For nerve fibers in the resting state, however, extracellular and intracellular water may be distinguished by applying transition metal ions externally. NMR spectra of water protons from nerve fibers in high potassium media, which contain transition metal ions, consist of three or more components, reflecting a complex distribution of these ions around the nerve membranes. In the case of Co2+, three components may be identified.

Effects of an outward water flow on potassium currents in a squid giant axon

The excitation of the squid giant axon was analyzed under an outward water flow through the membrane product by an osmotic gradient. The outward water flow made an undershoot of the action potential larger by about 25 mV without decreasing its peak largely. It also made EK more negative but not ENa. The effect of the outward water flow was specific for the potassium channel. The outward current increased and its decline during a long-lasting depolarization became less prominent under the outward water flow. At the same time, inward tail currents for the potassium channel decreased extraordinarily without a large change in the time course. The potassium conductance had a marked rectification in the direction of the water flow. The undershoot of the action potential under the outward water flow was very sensitive to potassium ions in the external solution. Eight mM KCl was effective to diminish the undershoot and to restore the change in EK by about 60% but gave no effect on the reduced tail current. The outward water flow effect can be explained not only by the change in a local concentration of potassium ions at the mouths of the potassium channel due to a sieving but also by the rectification in a hydrodynamic manner.

Effects of methylmercury on the electric activity of the node of Ranvier

The toxicity of methylmercury chloride (0.05-0.5 mM/L) to nerve fibers has been tested in vitro on a single frog's myelinated nerve fibers. The electrophysiological activity of the node of Ranvier has been recorded according to the air-gap technique. The amplitude of the action potential dies down progressively and the threshold for electric excitability increases; membrane Na+ and K+ transferences are significantly reduced. Eventually the action potentials are blocked and the membrane undergoes progressive depolarization. A recovery upon withdrawal was observed only with lower concentrations. A pretreatment with reducing agents (DTT and 2-mercaptoethanol) may delay the block of the electric activity of the node.

Cytoplasmic gel and water relations of axon

A previous method of measuring the swelling pressure (delta IIg) of the cytoplasmic gel of the giant axon of Loligo vulgaris was refined. The estimates of delta IIg made with the improved method were consistent with those made with the earlier method. In these methods the activity of the solvent in the gel is measured by increasing the activity of the solvent in the internal phase of the gel by application of hydrostatic pressure to the gel directly. Comparable values for the activity of the solvent in the gel were obtained also by an alternate method, in which the deswelling of the gel is measured upon decreasing the activity of the solvent in the external phase by addition of a nonpenetrating high mol wt polymer (i.e., Ficoll). Additional support was obtained for the earlier suggestion that delta IIg contributes to the swelling and shrinkage pattern of the whole axon. In part, the new evidence involved two consecutive direct measurements of intraxonal pressure. The first measurement was that of a mixed pressure composed of delta IIg and delta IIm (delta IIm being the effective osmotic pressure due to the intra-extraxonal gradient in the activity of mobile solutes). The subsequent measurement was that of delta IIg alone. The latter measurement was made feasible by destroying the axolemma, thereby eliminating the contribution of delta IIm. An estimate of delta IIm was obtained by subtracting delta IIg from the total pressure measured initially. The delta IIm determined by the above method was two orders of magnitude smaller than the theoretical osmotic pressure. This is consistent with the delta IIm determined previously, where osmotic intra-extraxonal filtration coefficients were compared to the hydrostatic. The mixed pressure experiments lend credence to the idea that the substantial contribution of delta IIg to the water relations of the whole axon is due to delta IIg being of the same order of magnitude as delta IIm. The degree of free swelling of axoplasmic gels was studied as a function of pH, salt concentration, and hydration radius of the anion of the salt used. The swelling increased with an increase in the reciprocal of the hydration radius, a decrease in salt concentration, and at pH below or above similar to 4.5. The nature of the constraints to the free swelling of axoplasm in axons immersed in seawater was studied. With the seawater employed, these constraints appeared to be due more to the retractive forces of the sheath than to delta IIm.

Osmotic relations of nerve fiber

The volumetric elastic modulus of the sheath and the osmotic swelling pressure of the axoplasmic polymer network of the giant axon of Loligo vulgaris were measured. Evidence was obtained that (1) the elastic modulus of the sheath, (2) the swelling pressure of axoplasm, and (3) the effective osmotic pressure difference due to mobile solutes determine axonal volume. The contributions of the sheath and the axoplasm were significant because the effective osmotic pressure due to mobile solutes was a small fraction of the theoretical bulk osmotic pressure due to these solutes. The giant axon was converted from an imperfect to a near perfect osmometer by minimizing the contribution of the sheath and the axoplasmic gel.

Content of amino acids in axons from the CNS of the lobster

The contents of alanine, proline, glycine, GABA, glutamate, and aspartate were measured in four bundles of axons (designated areas A through D) from the circumesophageal connective of the lobster (Homarus americanus). The contents of these amino acids were also determined in individual axons within specific bundles and in the external sheath covering the circumesophageal connective. Within the nerve bundles the levels of aspartate were highest of the amino acids measured, ranging from 1.95 +/- 0.12 mumol/mg protein in area C to 7.55 +/- 0.54 mumol/mg protein in area B. On the other hand, GABA had the lowest value in the four bundles; its highest level was found in area C (0.083 +/- 0.006 mu mol/mg protein) and the lowest in area B (none detected). The content of glycine ranged from 1.63 +/- 0.14 (area C) to 2.52 +/- 0.32 mumol/mg protein in area A; that for glutamate ranged from 0.390 +/- 0.019 (area C) to 1.01 +/- 1.03 (area B). The contents of alanine and proline changed relatively little from bundle-to-bundle. The content of aspartate was the highest of any of the amino acids assayed in individual axons (with diameters in the range of 40 to 65 mu) dissected from areas B and C. Glycine had the next highest content followed in order by glutamate, proline, and alanine. GABA was not detected in these axons. With the exception of GABA (which could not be detected), aspartate had the lowest level (0.066 +/- 0.017) and glycine had the highest level (2.00 +/- 0.498 mumol/mg protein) in the external sheath covering the the circumesophageal connective.

Stimulation-dependent alterations in peroxidase uptake at lobster neuromuscular junctions

The uptake of cytochemically demonstrable horseradish peroxidase into small vesicles within nerve endings in lobster stretcher muscles can be enhanced by electrical stimulation of transmitter release by the endings. This is observed particularly if stimulation is interrupted periodically and the nerves

Observations on a transient phase of focal swelling in degenerating unmyelinated nerve fibers

This study describes the nature and time-course of a swelling phase during the degeneration of unmyelinated nerve fibers, as observed in highly organized cultures of rodent sensory ganglia. Observations were made on nerve fascicles after they were cut and during nutritional deprivation. About 12 hr after nerve transection, large, clear vacuoles appear throughout fascicles distal to the cut. These vacuoles are most numerous at 24 hr and then gradually subside; after 48 hr, only small granules mark the severed fascicles. Electron microscopy shows that the vacuoles are, in fact, massive focal dilations of unmyelinated axons. Similar focal dilations in unmyelinated axons are observed if cultures are not refed for 5-7 days; under these conditions glucose concentrations fall below 20 mg/100 ml and degenerative changes begin to appear in neuronal somas. If the gas-tight assembly is opened and the culture refed, there is rapid disappearance of axonal dilations (usually within 1 hr) and recovery of many of the damaged neurons. Cooling (4 degrees C) prevents this reversal, suggesting that an active process is involved. It is postulated that the swellings result from the failure of active axolemmal ion-pumping mechanisms prior to loss of selective permeability in the axon membrane. The reasons for the focal nature of the swellings is unknown. A literature review indicates that a phase of focal swelling has frequently been observed during the degeneration of unmyelinated nerve fibers in vivo.

Ionic permeability of the inhibitory postsynaptic membrane of lobster muscle fibers

Reversal potentials (E(IPSP)) of the inhibitory postsynaptic potential and the membrane resting potentials (E(M)) of lobster muscle fibers were determined with intracellular recording under a variety of ionic conditions. E(IPSP) is solely dependent on the electromotive force of anionic batteries; i.e., on the electrochemical gradient for a "mobile" fraction of intracellular Cl (Cl(i)) which is considerably smaller than the total intracellular Cl. The active inhibitory membrane is more permeable to certain "foreign" anions in the order NO(3) > SCN > Br > Cl. The membrane is impermeable to BrO(s), isethionate, and methylsulfate, but is slightly permeable to acetate and propionate. The level of Cl(i) appears to be determined in part by some active (pump?) process and most of the anions studied appear to interfere with the steady-state level of Cl(i).

Morphology and electrophysiological properties of squid giant axons perfused intracellularly with protease solution

Squid giant axons were perfused intracellularly with solutions containing various kinds of proteases (1 mg/ml). Except for a 10 micro layer inside the axolemma the axoplasm was removed by a 5 min perfusion with Bacillus protease, strain N' (BPN'). The resting and action potentials were unchanged and the axon maintained its excitability for more than 4 hr on subsequent enzyme-free perfusion. After perfusion with protease solution for 30 min the axoplasm was almost completely removed. The excitability was maintained, but the action potential became prolonged and rapidly developed a plateau of several hundred milliseconds. The change was not reversible even when the enzyme was removed from the perfusing fluid. Two other enzymes, prozyme and bromelin, also removed the protoplasm without blocking conduction. Trypsin suppressed within 3 min the excitability of the axon. It is suggested that the proteases alter macromolecules in the excitable membrane and thus affect the shape of the action potential.

An examination of the effects of osmotic pressure changes upon transmitter release from mammalian motor nerve terminals

1. When the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (m.e.p.p.s) was measured at neuromuscular junctions in rat diaphragm nerve preparations in vitro bathed in solutions having osmolarities between 200 and 700 m-osmoles/l. it was found that m.e.p.p. frequency was transiently increased by exposure to osmotic gradients exceeding 75 m-osmoles/l., and then declined, within 1 hr, to a steady level slightly higher than the control level of frequency. Smaller osmotic gradients caused a maintained increase in m.e.p.p. frequency. E.p.p. quantal content was initially increased and later profoundly decreased upon exposure of preparations to solutions with an osmotic pressure of 500 or 600 m-osmoles/l. but was unaffected by less hypertonic solutions.2. Variation of the Ca or Mg content of the bathing solutions did not alter these effects of osmotic pressure on the early transient increase in m.e.p.p. frequency or e.p.p. quantal content but affected the late steady increase in m.e.p.p. frequency.3. The value of the transient increase in m.e.p.p. frequency was exponentially related to the osmotic gradient in the range 0-300 m-osmoles/l. with a Q(10) of 1.95 (range 11-34 degrees C). Greater osmotic gradients did not further increase m.e.p.p. frequency. Variation of the ionic strength of the bathing medium did not influence osmotic effects upon frequency.4. The discrepancy between the effects of osmotic gradients upon spontaneous and nerve-impulse induced transmitter release was explained by an occlusion of the osmotic effects by depolarization of nerve terminals. Time-course studies showed that in the presence of 20 mM-KCl the m.e.p.p. frequency increase in response to an increase in osmotic pressure was small and was followed by a reduction in frequency to below control levels while osmotic pressure changes had no immediate effect upon m.e.p.p. frequency in solutions containing 30 mM-KCl.5. It was concluded that increased osmotic gradients could release transmitter by a mechanism independent of Ca and of nerve terminal depolarization.6. It is suggested that the initial transient effects of changes of osmotic gradient upon transmitter release are related to flow of water through the nerve terminal membrane, while the later effects are related to nerve terminal volume changes.

Permeability of alkali metal cations in lobster muscle. A comparison of electrophysiological and osmometric analyses

Single muscle fibers from lobster walking legs are effectively impermeable to Na, but are permeable to K. They shrink in hyperosmotic NaCl; they swell in low NaCl media which are hyposmotic or which are made isosmotic with the addition of KCl. In conformity, the membrane potential is relatively insensitive to changes in external Na, while it responds according to the Nernst relation for changes in external K. When the medium is made isosmotic or hyperosmotic with RbCl the volume and membrane potential changes are of essentially the same magnitudes as those in media enriched with KCl. The time courses for attaining equilibrium are slower, indicating that Rb is less permeant than K. Substitution of CsCl for NaCl (isosmotic condition) produces no change in volume of the muscle fiber. Addition of CsCl (hyperosmotic condition) causes a shrinkage which attains a steady state, as is the case in hyperosmotic NaCl. Osmotically, therefore, Cs appears to be no more permeant than is Na. However, the membrane depolarizes slowly in Cs-enriched media and eventually comes to behave as an ideal Cs electrode. Thus, the electrode properties of the lobster muscle fiber membrane may not depend upon the diffusional relations of the membrane and ions, and the osmotic permeability of the membrane for a given cation may not correspond with the electrophysiologically deduced permeability. Comparative data on the effects of NH(4) and Li are also included and indicate several other degrees of complexity in the cell membrane.