Two distinct propagating regenerative potentials in a single ethanol-treated axon

B. Hochner, M. E. Spira*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Superfusion of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana) giant axon by ethanol (0.5-2%) produces conditions which allow the generation and active propagation of two kinds of regenerative potentials. (a) The classical action potential with a threshold at about 30 mV above resting potential, an amplitude of about 105 mV, a duration of 1-2 ms, and a conduction velocity of 3-6 m/s. (b) A smaller depolarizing potential (SDP) with a threshold of 5-15 mV above resting level, an amplitude of 10-30 mV, a duration of several hundred ms and a conduction velocity of 0.1-0.6 m/s. The SDP is associated with a small increase in conductance (10-15%), and is abolished by tetrodotoxin (10-6 M) or by removing extracellular sodium. The amplitude of the SDP slightly increases when the extracellular Ca2+ concentration is elevated and is reduced at low (Ca2+)0 concentration; however, it is not blocked in a solution containing high Mg2+ (19 mM), low Ca2+ (1 mM) concentrations, indicating that inward Ca2+ current is not required for the generation of SDP.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)164-168
Number of pages5
JournalBrain Research
Volume398
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 19 Nov 1986

Keywords

  • Action potential
  • Axon
  • Ethanol

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