Abstract
GIANT neurones of a number of molluscs are known to be able to maintain their action potentials when exposed to solutions free of sodium1–6, and in some cases to be unaffected by the poison tetrodotoxin3,6. It has been suggested that these cells may depend wholly or partly on ealcium ions to carry the inward component of their action current. In particular, this type of behaviour is observed in many of the giant neurones of the common snail, Helix aspersa. Recent evidence has suggested, however, that in the case of Helix aspersa the behaviour of the neurones could be better explained in terms of a reservoir of sodium ions, in or close to the cell membranes7. The experiments described here were designed to investigate the effect on these neurones of prolonged exposure to sodium-free Ringer, and of tetrodotoxin at concentrations up to 5 × 10−6 g/ml.
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MORETON, R. Ionic Mechanism of the Action Potentials of Giant Neurones of Helix aspersa. Nature 219, 70–71 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/219070a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/219070a0
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