Accession Number : ADA012643


Title :   Internal Conductivity of Axons, Nerve Cell Bodies and Large Nonnervous Cells,


Corporate Author : ARMED FORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH INST BETHESDA MD


Personal Author(s) : Carpenter,D. O. ; Hovey,M. M. ; Bak,A. F.


Report Date : MAR 1975


Pagination or Media Count : 37


Abstract : The specific resistivity of the internal medium of a variety of large cells was measured by a technique utilizing a single metal microelectrode subjected to alternating current in a circuit in which the voltage output varies with the conductivity of the thin layer of fluid at the electrode tip. The specific resistivity of cytoplasm of nerve cell bodies of Anisodoris, Navanax and Aplysia ranged from 434-1250 ohm cm whereas that of squid giant axon was 32-39 ohm cm. Myxicola giant axons had an average resistivity of 68 ohm cm whereas that for barnacle giant muscle fibers was 178 ohm cm and from Amphiuma red blood cells was 350 ohm cm. The temperature dependence of conductivities of Aplysia neurons and squid axon was not different from that of equally conductive salt solutions. The cause of the extraordinarily high resistivities of some of these tissues is unknown, but the results suggest some mechanism whereby interactions of ions with cell water and/or macromolecules lower ionic mobility.


Descriptors :   *ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, *NERVE CELLS, *CELLS(BIOLOGY), *NERVE FIBERS, IONS, TISSUES(BIOLOGY), PHYSIOLOGY, ERYTHROCYTES, INVERTEBRATES, FROGS, AQUATIC ANIMALS, ANNELIDA, REPTILES.


Subject Categories : ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY


Distribution Statement : APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE