Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R W Joyner

Publications and source records attributed to R W Joyner.

85 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Axon voltage-clamp simulations. II. Double sucrose-gap method.

This is the second in a series of four papers on the simulation of the voltage clamp of cylindrical excitable cells. In this paper we evaluate the double sucrose-gap voltage-clamp technique for the squid and lobster giant axons. Using the Crank-Nicolson method of solution of the cable equations and differential equations representing the voltage clamp circuit we studied the effect of length of the sucrose gap "node" on the voltage profile along an excitable cell during a simulated voltage clamp. The voltage gradients along the region of the cell within the node produce "notches" in the current recording as well as changes in the magnitude of the sodium and potassium current for a given voltage step. Our results show that good voltage clamp control requires node lengths less than one-half the axon diameter.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1975

Axon voltage-clamp simulations. III. Postsynaptic region.

This is the third in a series of four papers in which we present the numerical simulations of the application of the voltage clamp technique to excitable cells. In this paper we discuss the problem of voltage clamping a region of a cylindrical cell using microelectrodes for current injection and voltage recording. A recently developed technique (Llinás et al., 1974) of internal application of oil drops to electrically insulate a short length of the postsynaptic region of the squid giant synapse is evaluated by simulation of the voltage clamp of an excitable cylindrical cell of finite length with variable placement of the current and voltage electrodes. Our results show that ENa can be determined quite accurately with feasible oil gap lengths but that the determination of the reversal potential for the synaptic conductance, ES, can be considerably in error. The error in the determination of ES dependp, and especially the membrane resistance at the time the synaptic conductance occurs. It is shown that the application of tetraethylammonium chloride to block the active potassium conductance very significantly reduces the error in the determination of ES. In addition we discuss the effects of cable length and electrode position on the apparent amplitude and time course of the syn aptic conductance change. These results are particularly relevant to the application of the voltage clamp technique to cells with nonsomatic synapses. The method of simulation presented here provides a tool for evaluation of voltage clamp analysis of synaptic transmission for any cell with known membrane parameters and geometry.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1975

Axon voltage-clamp simulations. A multicellular preparation.

In this paper we extend the simulation of the voltage clamp of a single nerve fiber to a bundle of axons. These simulations included not only the description of the voltage clamp circuit and a single unidimensional cable to represent the preparation in the "node" region of a double sucrose gap used previously but also a series resistance and a shunt pathway. The output of the voltage control amplifier is applied across the membrane plus the series resistance, producing a voltage drop across the series resistance due to the current generated by the membrane in response to a depolarizing voltage step. Since the membrane current has an inward and an outward phase, voltage drops of opposite sign are produced across the series resistance. During the transient current and at all points along an axon, the potential deviation produced by the series resistance is opposite to the deviation produced by the longitudinal gradient. Only at a command potential equal to the sodium equilibrium potential, the membrane potential transiently matches the command potential. For the attempted voltage clamp of an axon, values of series resistance larger than 50 omega-cm2 allowed propagated action potentials in the membrane. In spite of the presence of propagated action potentials at the calbe membrane, the recorded current does not show "notches" and it has a phase of inward current and a phase of outward current. It is concluded that, in a multicellular preparation with series resistance, the recording of a square voltage pulse does not indicate voltage control of the transmembrane potential. The presence of a shunt pathway produces inaccurate values of current density. Neither series or shunt resistance produce "notches" in the current records.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1975

Simulation of action potential propagation in an inhomogeneous sheet of coupled excitable cells.

Cable theory and active equivalent circuits have been used to simulate the propagation of action potentials along a single nerve or muscle fiber by representing the cell as a unidimensional cable composed of isopotential segments. We extended this method to a two-dimensional sheet of cells which in many ways represents the atrium. Our method consisted of solving for the potential profile of a sheet composed of a large number of isopotential membrane patches, each of which was represented by an active equivalent circuit in which the ionic conductances were functions of voltage and time. The patches were arranged in a rectangular array with resistive interconnections that could be varied over the sheet. We used this model to study the effect of various inhomogeneities on conduction velocity and the resulting wave fronts in a sheet of excitable tissue. Some of these inhomogeneities included different effective internal resistances in the x and y directions, preferential pathways, and discrete regions of changing resistive connections. The results showed that very localized changes in membrane properties or cellular interconnections produce changes in the wave front over broad areas. This model provides a method for computing the wave fronts of action potential propagation in any two-dimensional inhomogeneous sheet of coupled excitable cells.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1975

Propagation of action potentials in inhomogeneous axon regions.

Described are studies of propagation of action potentials through inhomogenous axon regions through experiments performed on squid giant axons and by computer simulations. The initial speed of propagation of the action potential is dependent upon the stimulus waveform. For a rectangular pulse of current, the action potential travel initally at a high speed that declines over the distance, reaching a constant speed of propagation at about 1-5 resting length constants; this distance depends on the stimulus strength. additional experiments studied the effects of changing the axon diameter and of introducing a temperature step. It was found that the propagated action potential suffers profound modification in shape and velocity as it reaches the region of transition. In both cases, it was possible to obtain reflected action potentials. A region of increased effective diameter was produced experimentally in the squid giant axon by insertion of an axial wire as usually employed in voltage clamps. It was found that the action potential, at the axial wire tip region, undergoes shape changes similar to those obtained tn simulations of a region of increased diameter as in a junction with the axon and soma in motor neurons. It is conducluded that the gaint axon can be used to reproduce simple electrical behaviors in other structures.-Ramón, F., R. W. Joyner and J.W. Moore. Propagation of action potentials in inhomogeneous axon regions.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1974

Equilibrium potential for the postsynaptic response in the squid giant synapse.

The reversal potential for the EPSP in the squid giant synapse has been studied by means of an intracellular, double oil gap technique. This method allows the electrical isolation of a portion of the axon from the rest of the fiber and generates a quasi-isopotential segment. In order to make the input resistance of this nerve segment as constant as possible, the electroresponsive properties of the nerve membrane were blocked by intracellular injection of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and local extracellular application of tetrodotoxin (TTX). Thus, EPSP's could be evoked in the isolated segment with a minimal amount of electroresponsive properties. The reversal potential for the EPSP (EEPSP) was measured by recording the synaptic potential or the synaptic current during voltage clamping. The results indicate that EEPSP may vary from +15 to +25 mV, which is more positive than would be expected for a 1:1 conductance change for Na(+) and K(+) (approximately -15 mV) and too negative for a pure Na(+) conductance ((+)40 mV). This latter value (E(Na)) was directly determined in the voltage clamp experiments. The results suggest that the synaptic potential is probably produced by a permeability change to Na(+) to K(+) in a 4:1 ratio. No change in time-course was observed in the synaptic current at clamp levels of -100 and +90 mV. The implications of a variable ratio for Na(+)-K(+) permeability in subsynaptic-postsynaptic membranes are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

The EMI-scanner.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Astrocytoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hemodynamic and electrocardiographic effects of early pulmonary valve replacement in pediatric patients after transannular complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

In adults, pulmonary value replacement (PVR) shows improvement in right ventricular (RV) volume and function and reduces QRS duration. In addition, RV volume correlates with QRS duration and QRS change. This has not been shown in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrocardiogram measurements before and after early PVR in a pediatric population with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot and whether QRS duration and QRS change correlated with RV volume. A retrospective review of MRIs and electrocardiograms was conducted on 10 patients. Median age at repair was 2.1 +/- 0.7 years, and median age at PVR was 11.5 +/- 2.0 years. There were significant decreases in RV end diastolic volume (EDV)/body surface area (BSA) (p < 0.0004), end systolic volume (ESV)/BSA (p = 0.02), RVEDV/left ventricular (LV) EDV (p < 0.001), RV ejection fraction (p < 0.04), RV stroke volume (SV)/BSA (p < 0.0002), and (RVSV - LVSV)/BSA (p = 0.0007). No significant change in QRS duration occurred (p = 0.08). QRS duration (pre-r = 0.44, p = 0.20; post-r = 0.34, p = 0.33) and QRS change (r = -0.08, p = 0.83) did not correlate with RVEDV. We propose early consideration of PVR in pediatric patients. PVR improves RV volumes and function and may provide beneficial electromechanical effects by slowing the progression of QRS duration.

Child↗