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PMID: 11526838 Published · ppublish English Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Osmometrically determined characteristics of the cell membrane of squid and lobster giant axons.

The Journal of general physiology ·Vol. 50 ·No. 2 ·1966-11-00 ·Pages 423-45

Freeman AR, Reuben JP, Brandt PW, Grundfest H

Abstract

Lobster and squid giant nerve fibers respond differently when subjected to osmotic challenges. The axons proper, as distinct from the total (fiber) complex formed by the axon and connective sheath, both behave as "fast" osmometers for changes in the concentration of NaCl, but the maximum degree of swelling in hyposmotic media is by about 60% in lobster and only by 20% in squid. The relative volume intercepts of the van't Hoff relation are about 0.2 for lobster and 0.4 for squid. The sheaths of both axons undergo only small, apparently passive changes in volume. Lobster axons are permeable to Cl, but squid axons are impermeable to this anion. Lobster axons are also permeable to glycerol. The implications of the data as to the nature of volume regulation of cells are discussed.

MeSH Terms
Animals Axons/metabolism,ultrastructure Cryoprotective Agents/pharmacology Decapodiformes Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Electrophysiology Glycerol/pharmacology Isotonic Solutions/pharmacology Membrane Potentials/drug effects,physiology Microscopy, Electron Nephropidae Osmotic Pressure Potassium Chloride/pharmacokinetics Propionates/pharmacology Saline Solution, Hypertonic/pharmacology Sodium Chloride/pharmacokinetics Water-Electrolyte Balance/drug effects,physiology
Chemicals
Cryoprotective Agents Isotonic Solutions Propionates Saline Solution, Hypertonic Sodium Chloride Potassium Chloride Glycerol
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Freeman A R
Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology and Department of Anatomy, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, USA.
Reuben J P
Brandt P W
Grundfest H
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of general physiology
Abbr.
J Gen Physiol
ISSN
0022-1295
DOI
10.1085/jgp.50.2.423
Published
1966-11-00
Pages
423-45
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
2985110R
PMCID
PMC2225644
Subset
IM
Grants
PHS HHS · 5RO-HE-07433 · United States
CSAT SAMHSA HHS · 5TI NB-5328 · United States
NB NIH HHS · NB-03270 · United States
NB NIH HHS · NB-03728 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1085/jgp.50.2.423 PMC Full Text View journal details
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