A study of the crustacean axon repetitive response. II. The effect of cations, sodium, calcium (magnesium), potassium and hydrogen (pH) in the external medium.

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of sodium, calcium, potassium (magnesium), potassium, and hydrogen (pH) ion concentration in the external medium on the repetitive response and the transmembrane electrical parameters of the crustacean axon have been investigated. (1) The action potential is reduced with decrease in sodium ion concentration, the relationship is linear if the spike voltage is plotted against the log (Na0). The action potential amplitude does not increase significantly, above 135 mv, attained at Na0 = 452 mM, if Na0 is increased. (2) The repetitive response and oscillatory activity in general disappears as the sodium concentration is reduced to less than 150 mM. (3) The critical firing level increases with decrease in sodium, the relationship linear with respect to log (Nao). (4) The positive after potential amplitude is not affected by the sodium concentration. (5) The membrane resistance is not affected by sodium concentration. (6) Calcium lack results in decreased critical firing level and spontaneous firing, followed by a total and irreversible loss of excitability. The membrane resistance is markedly decreased. Polarizing current, if applied early after the onset of the calcium lack effect, may restore, at least partially, the excitability phenomenon. (7) Calcium excess increases membrane resistance, depresses excitability. Calcium concentration of 150 mM abolishes the repetitive response. (8) There is a 3.3+: 1 ratio Na:Ca for threshold level of repetitive response. Lower ratio figures, by reducing Na or increasing Ca or both, eliminates repetition. Increasing the ratio figure by increasing sodium or decreasing calcium or both augments oscillatory activity. This ratio is constant between the limits 400 mM Na:125, Ca to 90 mM Na:25 mM Ca. (9) Magnesium may substitute for calcium, the Na:Mg ratio for repetitive response threshold is 3.3:2. (10) Repetitive firing may be elicited over a wide range of pH values 4.2–10.5; membrane potential and resistance values decline invariably at pH values above 9.5 and below 4.5. (11) Repetitive firing is enhanced by increasing pH values, depressed by reducing pH values. (12) Effect of excess potassium produces depolarization, reduced membrane resistance, inactivation and abolition of repetitive firing, may be relieved by applied hyperpolarization. (13) Potassium lack results in membrane potential and resistance irreversible decline, permanent inactivation, total loss of excitability. Partial restoration by strong hyperpolarization if applied before effect is complete. Potassium replacement in solution only slows or temporarily arrests the overall membrane deterioration. (14) Conclusions ‐ sodium controls spike, potassium controls after potential, calcium (magnesium) controls membrane permeability, pH controls amount of available ionized calcium. Repetitive firing requires proper ratio 3.3/1 of (Nao)/(Ca0), pH above 7.6 and potassium at 15 mM in solution.