Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-tnzcf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-13T23:14:11.336Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Membrane potentials in an acanthocephalan worm (Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

D. M. Miller,
B. S. Wong and
T. T. Dunagan
D. M. Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901
B. S. Wong
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901
T. T. Dunagan
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901
Get accessRights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The resting membrane potential of the acanthocephalan rete system in Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus was −35±1·5 mV (n = 20) and was dependent upon the external potassium concentration. The membrane potential reached 0 mV when the external potassium concentration was 160 mM. Spontaneous spike potentials of 45 mV ± 10 were dependent on calcium flux. The membrane potential was depolarized by acetylcholine, potassium-free medium, calcium ions and chloride-free medium but not by changes in the external sodium concentration. Spontaneous potentials were increased in number by acetylcholine and calcium at concentrations above 3 mM, but were decreased in number by chloride- and calcium-free medium. Hence the rete system potentials are very similar to smooth muscle potentials in many respects.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 83 , Issue 1 , August 1981, pp. 33 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Baker, P. F. (1972). Transport and metabolism of calcium ions in nerve. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology 24, 177–223.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brading, A. F. & Caldwell, P. C. (1971). The resting membrane potential of the somatic muscle cells of Ascaris lumbricoides. Journal of Physiology 217, 605–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casteels, R., Droogman, G. & Hendricks, H. (1971). Membrane potential of smooth muscle cells in K-free solution. Journal of Physiology 217, 281–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casteels, R. & Kuriyama, H. (1966). Membrane potential and ion content in the smooth muscle of the guinea pig Taenia coli at different external potassium concentrations. Journal of Physiology 184, 120–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chang, Y. C. (1969). Membrane potential of muscle cells from the earthworm Pheretina hawayana. American Journal of Physiology 216, 1250–65.Google Scholar
Colton, C. & Freeman, A. (1975). La+ blockade of glutamate action at the lobster neuromuscular junction. Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry 51C, 285–9.Google Scholar
Curtis, H. J. & Cole, K. S. (1942). Membrane resting and action potentials from the squid giant axon. Journal of Cellular and Comparative Physiology 19, 135–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Debassio, W. A., Schnitzler, R. & Parsons, R. (1971). Influence of lanthanum on transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction. Journal of Neurobiology 2, 263–78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Denbo, J. D. (1971). Osmotic and ionic regulation in Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (Acanthocephala). M. A. thesis, Southern Illinois University.Google Scholar
Holman, M. E. (1958). Membrane potentials recorded with high-resistance micro-electrodes; and the effects of changes in ionic environment on the electrical and mechanical activity of the smooth muscle of the Taenia coli of the guinea-pig. Journal of Physiology 141, 464–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huxley, A. F. & Stämpfli, R. (1951). Effect of potassium and sodium on resting and action potentials of single myelinated nerve fibres. Journal of Physiology 112, 496–508.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Katase, T. & Tomita, T. (1972). Influences of sodium and calcium on the recovery process from potassium contracture in the guinea-pig Taenia coli. Journal of Physiology 224, 489–500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ling, G. & Gerard, R. W. (1950). External potassium and the membrane potential of single muscle fibres. Nature, London 165, 113–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maeno, T. (1959). Electrical characteristics and activation potential of Bufo eggs. Journal of General Physiology 43, 139–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meech, R. W. (1978). Calcium-dependent potassium activation in nervous tissues. Annual Review of Biophysics and Bioengineering 7, 1–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miller, D. M. & Dunagan, T. T. (1976). Body wall organization of the acanthocephalan, Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus: a re-examination of the lacunar system. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 43, 99–106.Google Scholar
Miller, D. M. & Dunagan, T. T. (1977). The lacunar system and tubular muscles in Acanthocephala. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 44, 201–5.Google Scholar
Reuter, H. (1973). Divalent cations as charge carriers in excitable membranes. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology 26, 1–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reuter, H., Blaustein, M. P. & Haeusler, G. (1973). Na-Ca exchange and tension development in arterial smooth muscle. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London, B 265, 87–94.Google ScholarPubMed
Slayman, C. L. (1965 a). Electrical properties of Neurospora crassa. Effects of external cations on the intracellular potential. Journal of General Physiology 49, 69–92.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slayman, C. L. (1965 b). Electrical properties of Neurospora crassa. Respiration and the intracellular potential. Journal of General Physiology 49, 93–116.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, R. C. (1969). Membrane current and intracellular sodium changes in a snail neurone during extrusion of injected sodium. Journal of Physiology 201, 495–514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, D. W. (1957). The effect of ions upon neuromuscular transmission in a herbivorous insect. Journal of Physiology 138, 119–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wong, B. S., Miller, D. M. & Dunagan, T. T. (1979). Electrophysiology of acanthocephalan body wall muscles. Journal of Experimental Biology 82, 273–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed