Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rosenthal, J. J.
Right arrow Articles by Bezanilla, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rosenthal, J. J.
Right arrow Articles by Bezanilla, F.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 199, Issue 2 135-143, Copyright © 2000 by Marine Biological Laboratory

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Seasonal variation in conduction velocity of action potentials in squid giant axons

JJ Rosenthal and F Bezanilla
Department of Physiology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.

To determine whether the electrical properties of the squid giant axon are seasonally acclimated, action potentials, recorded at different temperatures, were compared between giant axons isolated from Loligo pealei caught in May, from relatively cold waters (approximately 10 degrees-12 degrees C), and in August, from relatively warm waters (approximately 20 degrees C). Parameters relating to the duration of the action potential (e.g., maximum rate of rise, maximum rate of fall, and duration at half-peak) did not change seasonally. The relationship between conduction velocity and temperature remained constant between seasons as well, in spite of the fact that May axons were significantly larger than August axons. When normalized to the fiber diameter, mean May conduction velocities were 83% of the August values at all temperatures tested, and analysis of the rise time of the action potential foot suggested that a change in the axoplasmic resistivity was responsible for this difference. Direct measurements of axoplasmic resistance further supported this hypothesis. Thus seasonal changes in the giant axon's size and resistivity are not consistent with compensatory thermal acclimation, but instead serve to maintain a constant relationship between conduction velocity and temperature.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
P. Crotty, T. Sangrey, and W. B Levy
Metabolic Energy Cost of Action Potential Velocity
J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2006; 96(3): 1237 - 1246.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
P. H. Lenz, A. E. Hower, and D. K. Hartline
Temperature Compensation in the Escape Response of a Marine Copepod, Calanus finmarchicus (Crustacea)
Biol. Bull., August 1, 2005; 209(1): 75 - 85.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
T. G. A. Money, M. L. Anstey, and R. M. Robertson
Heat Stress-Mediated Plasticity in a Locust Looming-Sensitive Visual Interneuron
J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2005; 93(4): 1908 - 1919.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
J. J. C. Rosenthal and F. Bezanilla
A comparison of propagated action potentials from tropical and temperate squid axons: different durations and conduction velocities correlate with ionic conductance levels
J. Exp. Biol., June 15, 2002; 205(12): 1819 - 1830.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2000 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.