Non-stationary fluctuation analysis of the Na current in myelinated nerve fibers of Xenopus laevis: experiments and stochastic simulations.

Na current fluctuations under voltage-clamp conditions during pulse steps in the potential range from -65 to -30 mV were measured in myelinated nerve fibers of Xenopus laevis. The covariance functions for four consecutive 1 ms intervals were calculated. The time courses of the covariance functions were well fitted with monoexponential functions with time constants between 0.

Inactivation of the potassium transport system of myelinated nerve in the presence of a cyclic ionophore.

A potassium carrying ionophore dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 was found to affect the specific ionic currents in the node of Ranvier. Its presence caused an inactivation of the potassium permeability mechanism and a decrease of the sodium permeability. The rate of inactivation of the potassium permeability depended on crown ether concentration, on membrane potential and on temperature.

The effects of neuraminidase and protamine chloride on potential clamp parameters of the node of Ranvier (Xenopus laevis).

The effects of neuraminidase and protamine chloride on the ionic currents associated with step changes in membrane potential were studied. Neuraminidase (a hydrolase which cleaves glycosidically bound sialic acid) had negligible effects on the permeability properties. The polycation protamine chloride decreased the sodium as well as the potassium currents.

Effects of ionic concentration on sodium permeability properties of myelinated nerve fibres of Xenopus laevis.

1. The nodal currents of single myelinated nerve fibres were recorded under potential clamp conditions, and the effect of [Ca], [Na] and [K] in the external solution on some of the Na permeability properties were analysed. 2.

Steady state current rectification in potential clamped nodes of Ranvier (Xenopus laevis).

The membrane potential in single nodes of Ranvier was changed in rectangular pulse steps while the membrane currents, associated with the potential steps, were measured. Changes were made in the ionic composition of the external and the internal medium. The latter changes were obtained by free diffusion through a cut internode.

Potentiometric measurement of membrane action potentials in frog muscle fibres.

1. A potentiometric method for recording membrane action potentials from small segments of isolated skeletal muscle fibres has been described.2.