Internal Conductivity of Axons, Nerve Cell Bodies and Large Nonnervous Cells
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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA012643
Entities
People
- A. F. Bak
- D. O. Carpenter
- M. M. Hovey
Organizations
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute