Contraction of protoplasm. IV. Cinematographic analysis of unfertilized sea urchin eggs stimulated with continuous direct current.

Abstract

AbstractThe response of unfertilized sea urchin eggs stimulated with continuous D.C. was studied using cinematographic techniques. As reported by previous workers, the initiation of the response was anodal in polarity and followed a typical strength‐duration curve. However, the anodal response may be swelling and/or contraction, depending on the amplitude of the applied stimulus, i.e., the magnitude of the contraction is directly related to the applied stimulus and is a graded response. It is suggested that the phenomena of anodal swelling and anodal contraction represent a continuum of responses based on ion exchange.