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The resting membrane potential of the somatic muscle cells of Ascaris lumbricoides
Author(s) -
Brading Alison F.,
Caldwell P. C.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009588
Subject(s) - resting potential , sodium , potassium , membrane potential , ascaris lumbricoides , chemistry , biophysics , membrane , ascaris , acetylcholine , ion , biochemistry , endocrinology , biology , helminths , zoology , organic chemistry
1. The resting membrane potential of Ascaris muscle fibres, which is normally relatively insensitive to ion changes in the medium, has been measured under a wide variety of conditions. 2. The results have been interpreted in terms of a form of the constant field equation containing additional terms for the contribution of ions and charged groups other than potassium, sodium and chloride. 3. Normally the contribution of the additional terms is large and tends to outweigh the contributions of potassium, sodium and chloride. 4. The contribution of the additional terms is considerably reduced in the absence of sodium and in the presence of γ‐amino butyric acid and acetylcholine. 5. It is suggested that the additional terms may represent the contribution of an electrogenic active transport mechanism to the factors determining the membrane potential.