Biomaterial Database

Desensitization onset and recovery at the potassium-depolarized frog neuromuscular junction are voltage sensitive. 1978

B Scubon-Mulieri, and R L Parsons

The influence of voltage on the time-course of desensitization onset and recovery has been studied at the frog neuromuscular junction. The activation-desensitization sequence was determined from carbachol-induced end-plate currents in potassium-depolarized fibers voltage-clamped either to -40 mV or +40 mV. The time-course of both desensitization onset and recovery developed exponentially, with onset occurring more rapidly than recovery. Desensitization onset was voltage dependent, the onset time constant being 8.3 +/- 1.3 s (11 fibers) at -40 mV and 19.3 +/- 3.4 s (15 fibers) at +40 mV. Recovery from desensitization was also influenced by voltage. The extent of recovery after 2 min was 80.4 +/- 6.3% in those fibers voltage-clamped to -40 mV and 57.4 +/- 3.6% in those fibers voltage-clamped to +40 mV. The voltage dependence of desenistization onset and recovery did not result from a difference in ability to control voltage at these two levels of membrane potential. These results demonstrate that in the potassium-depolarized preparation the processes controlling both desensitization onset and recovery of sensitivity from the desensitivity from the desensitized state are influenced by membrane voltage.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D009469	Neuromuscular Junction	The synapse between a neuron and a muscle.	Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
D011188	Potassium	An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D002217	Carbachol	A slowly hydrolyzed CHOLINERGIC AGONIST that acts at both MUSCARINIC RECEPTORS and NICOTINIC RECEPTORS.	Carbamylcholine,Carbacholine,Carbamann,Carbamoylcholine,Carbastat,Carbocholine,Carboptic,Doryl,Isopto Carbachol,Jestryl,Miostat,Carbachol, Isopto
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001001	Anura	An order of the class Amphibia, which includes several families of frogs and toads. They are characterized by well developed hind limbs adapted for jumping, fused head and trunk and webbed toes. The term "toad" is ambiguous and is properly applied only to the family Bufonidae.	Bombina,Frogs and Toads,Salientia,Toad, Fire-Bellied,Toads and Frogs,Anuras,Fire-Bellied Toad,Fire-Bellied Toads,Salientias,Toad, Fire Bellied,Toads, Fire-Bellied