Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 6 January 1967:
Vol. 155. no. 3758, pp. 95 - 97
DOI: 10.1126/science.155.3758.95
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Effects of Tetrodotoxin on Excitability of Squid Giant Axons in Sodium-Free Media

Akira Watanabe 1, Ichiji Tasaki 2, Irwin Singer 2, and Lawrence Lerman 2

1 Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
2 National Institutes of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

The effect of tetrodotoxin on excitability of internally perfused squid giant axons immersed in various sodium-free media was examined. Action potentials were found to be suppressed by this substance, with or without sodium ion in the external medium. Tetrodotoxin showed a strong suppressive effect upon action potentials produced in media containing salts of only divalent cations (CaCl2, CaBr2, SrCl2, or BaCl2). Our findings concerning the action of tetrodotoxin do not support the separate-channel hypothesis for excitable membranes.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
On soliton propagation in biomembranes and nerves.
T. Heimburg and A. D. Jackson (2005)
PNAS 102, 9790-9795
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tetrodotoxin: Effects on Brain Metabolism in vitro.
S. L. Chan and J. H. Quastel (1967)
Science 156, 1752-1753
   Abstract »    PDF »
Tetrodotoxin Derivatives: Chemical Structure and Blockage of Nerve Membrane Conductance.
T. Narahashi, J. W. Moore, and R. N. Poston (1967)
Science 156, 976-979
   Abstract »    PDF »
Tetrodotoxin Blocks a Graded Sensory Response in the Eye of Limulus.
R. M. Benolken and C. J. Russell (1967)
Science 155, 1576-1577
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)