The Effects of Pharmacological Agents on the Electrical Responses of Cells of Nitella flexilis

Procaine hydrochloride decreases potential and effective resistance of the membrane and does not produce prolonged spikes. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) and barium ions prolong the spikes of internodal cells of Nitella evidently by delaying K + activation as is the case in many other excitable cells. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
Main Authors: Belton, P., Netten, C. Van
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1971
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/y71-113
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/y71-113
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Summary:Procaine hydrochloride decreases potential and effective resistance of the membrane and does not produce prolonged spikes. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) and barium ions prolong the spikes of internodal cells of Nitella evidently by delaying K + activation as is the case in many other excitable cells. The last two agents do not increase the amplitude of the spikes in contrast to their effect on some arthropod muscle fibers. The other effects of Ba 2+ and TEA on the spikes of Nitella and animal cells are almost identical. We conclude that the same molecular mechanism is involved in K + activation in animals and plants.