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Journal of Experimental Biology 39,631-641 (1962)
Published by Company of Biologists 1962

Some Effects of the Ionic Composition of the Extracellular Fluid on the Electrical Activity of the Cockroach Abdominal Nerve Cord

J. E. TREHERNE ¹

¹ A.R.C. Unit of Insect Physiology, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

1. Irrigation of abdominal ganglia of Periplaneta Americana with salines containing excess potassium ions resulted in the development of a reversible conduction block. Removal of portions of the cellular and fibrous nerve sheath produced an accelerated potassium depolarization as described by Twarog & Roeder (1956).

2. Elevation of the cation concentrations to correspond to the extracellular levels resulted in delayed conduction block in desheathed preparations irrigated with highpotassium saline. At 70 mM./l. K the rate of depolarization was delayed to approximately half that of intact ganglia. At extremely high potassium concentrations this effect became relatively small.

3. It is suggested that the enhanced rates of potassium depolarization obtained in desheathed preparations partly result from the changed ionic composition of the extracellular fluid resulting from the desheathing procedure. The possible additional factors involved in the desheathing procedure are discussed.

4. 50 mM./l. acetylcholine had little effect on the synaptic transmission in intact terminal abdominal ganglia but caused rapid loss of conduction in desheathed preparations. Injection of equivalent amounts of acetylcholine beneath the nerve sheath did not cause rapid conduction block, and it is suggested that the effects of desheathing are not necessarily caused by the removal of a relatively impermeable superficial diffusion barrier.