Abstract
THE Hodgkin-Huxley1 equations provided a good general understanding of the propagation of information along nerve axons. This depended, however, on the assumption of certain electrical characteristics for the axon membrane, which have not yet been satisfactorily explained in terms of a physical model. Models involving the opening and closing of pores by single ions moving under the influence of the electrical potential across the membrane have proved inadequate2. Some form of cooperative behaviour within the membrane has been suggested3 but these suggestions have not led to a concrete physical mechanism. Here I propose a model which predicts the negative resistance which is the most important and characteristic quality of the axon membrane.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
We are sorry, but there is no personal subscription option available for your country.
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Hodgkin, A. L., and Huxley, A. F., J. Physiol., 117, 500 (1952).
Fishman, S. N., Chodorov, B. I., and Volkenstein, M. V., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 225, 1 (1971).
Changeux, J. P., Thiéry, J., Tung, Y., and Kittel, C., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 57, 335 (1967).
Born, M., Z. Physik, 1, 45 (1920).
Haydon, D. A., in Membranes and Ion Transport (edit. by Bittar), 1, 64 (Wiley, New York, 1970).
Bretcher, M. S., J. Mol. Biol., 59, 351 (1971).
Takashima, S., and Schwan, H. D., J. Phys. Chem., 69, 4176 (1965).
Noyes, R. M., Amer. Chem. Soc., 84, 513 (1962).
McMeekin, T. L., Willensky, M., and Groves, M. L., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 7, 151 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
TREDGOLD, R. A Possible Mechanism for the Negative Resistance characteristic of Axon Membranes. Nature New Biology 242, 209–210 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio242209a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio242209a0