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Non-linear dielectric properties of nerve membranes.

The unique feature of the measurements of membrane capacitance and conductance of nerve axons is the facts that these measurements must be carried out in the presence of a bias potential (-60 mV) across the membrane and also that measurements are performed in the presence of time dependent and non-linear currents. The bias potential creates an electrical field of 80 kV/cm in the membrane which produces a highly ordered structure at the resting state. Because of this, the AC field which is used for capacitance and conductance measurements should be considered a perturbation of the ordered structure rather than the force causing a transition from a random distribution to a polarized state. If the bias potential is removed by depolarization of the membrane, the ionic permeabilities of the membrane increases and Na and K ions will flow across it. Therefore, measurements of capacitance and conductance of depolarized membranes will be carried out in the presence of these ionic currents. First of all, K+ current is known to create an inductive reactance. Also Na current is believed, although still uncertain, to produce a capacitance component. Therefore, these reactances must be differentiated from the real membrane capacitance due to the dielectric properties of the components of the membrane. In order to do so, it is desirable to conduct dielectric measurements in the absence of ionic currents after application of appropriate toxins.

Action Potentials↗

Unrecognized hazards of surgical electrodes passed through metal suction-irrigation devices.

Surgical electrodes, passed through metal suction-irrigation devices, pose significant risks for unrecognized visceral burns through capacitively coupled current using monopolar electrosurgery. Plastic cannulas (and reducers) should be avoided with the metal suction-irrigation electrode; an all-metal trocar cannula confers limited safety. With surgeon education and advances in engineering, the potential for unrecognized visceral injury with capacitive coupling can be eliminated.

Burns↗

Excitation-contraction uncoupling of striated muscle fibres by formamide treatment: evidence of detubulation.

A reportedly new technique of excitation-contraction uncoupling of frog skeletal muscle fibres was evaluated by low-frequency linear cable analysis and electron microscopy. Results indicate a similarity between the electrophysiological and ultrastructural effects of the formamide procedure and those obtained with conventional glycerol shock. Fibres in isolated frog sartorius muscles immersed in a frog Ringer's-formamide solution showed a rapid decline in twitch tension and a decrease in specific membrane capacitance, and disruption of the morphology of the transverse tubule system. These results are consistent with physical and electrical isolation of the transverse tubular network from the surface membrane of the muscle fibre ("detubulation"). However, reduction of twitch tension is marked in the formamide solution. Complete paralysis is only achieved following the return to normal Ringer's. Probably due to the greater membrane permeability of formamide, the technique requires less time and may be more reliable than the standard glycerol shock procedure.

Animals↗

Noise characteristics of stainless-steel surface electrodes.

Bioelectric events measured with surface electrodes are subject to noise components which may be significant in comparison with low-level biological signals such as evoked neuroelectric potentials, and myoelectric potentials. In an effort to better understand noise arising from these electrodes, electrode and measurement system noise is modelled. The effect of electrode surface area on electrode impedance and noise is studied using circular stainless-steel electrodes of varying diameters. The main contributions of the work are the development of a model for stainless-steel electrode noise as a function of electrode area, and demonstrating that, for the band-width of interest to evoked neuroelectric and myoelectric signals (8-10,000 Hz), the primary noise components are thermal and amplifier current generated. The magnitudes of both of these depend on the electrode impedance magnitude. Electrode impedance is shown to be a power function of both electrode diameter and frequency, consistent with a capacitive electrode model.

Electric Conductivity↗

Dielectric properties of yeast cells as simulated by the two-shell model.

The paper reports a re-evaluation of the previous studies on yeast by considering the influence of vacuole upon the dielectric properties of the cell. In this respect, relative permittivity and conductivity of yeast cells dispersed in KCI solutions of various concentrations were measured in the frequency range from 0.1 to 100 MHz. The analysis of data revealed that the beta-dielectric dispersion of yeast cell suspensions is a composite of three (or probably four) distinct sub-dispersions. Since the dielectric response of the cell wall was experimentally avoided (according to Asami et al. (1976) J. Membr. Biol. 28, 169-180), the two-shell model, related to the plasma membrane and the vacuolar membrane, respectively, appeared to be the best approximation for yeast cells. The most relevant parameters obtained with the aid of the two-shell model were as follows. Specific capacitance of the plasma membrane and the vacuolar membrane were 0.703 +/- 0.011 microF/cm2 and 0.483 +/- 0.029 microF/cm2, respectively; electrical conductivity of the cytoplasm and the vacuole interior were 0.515 +/- 0.028 S/m and 3.22 +/- 0.48 S/m; finally, the permittivity of the cytoplasm was 50.6 +/- 2.

Cell Membrane↗

Properties of lecithin-dodecaprenol macrovesicular bilayer membranes.

The ionic transport properties, capacitance and breakdown voltage of bilayer macrovesicles made from lecithin, dodecaprenol and their mixtures have been studied. The electrical measurements showed that polyprenol in lipid bilayers increases membrane permeability and elasticity, and decreases membrane thickness. Some physiological implications of these findings are indicated.

Egg Yolk↗

Neurotransmitter-induced inhibition of exocytosis in insulin-secreting beta cells by activation of calcineurin.

Neurotransmitters and hormones such as somatostatin, galanin, and adrenalin reduce insulin secretion. Their inhibitory action involves direct interference with the exocytotic machinery. We have examined the molecular processes underlying this effect using high resolution measurements of cell capacitance. Suppression of exocytosis was maximal at concentrations that did not cause complete inhibition of glucose-stimulated electrical activity. This action was dependent on activation of G proteins but was not associated with inhibition of the voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents or adenylate cyclase activity. The molecular processes initiated by the agonists culminate in the activation of the Ca(2+)-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin, and suppression of the activity of this enzyme abolishes their action on exocytosis. We propose that mechanisms similar to those we report here may contribute to adrenergic and peptidergic inhibition of secretion in other neuroendocrine cells and in nerve terminals.

Adrenergic Agonists↗

Controlling semiconductor/metal junction barriers by incomplete, nonideal molecular monolayers.

We study how partial monolayers of molecular dipoles at semiconductor/metal interfaces can affect electrical transport across these interfaces, using a series of molecules with systematically varying dipole moment, adsorbed on n-GaAs, prior to Au or Pd metal contact deposition, by indirect evaporation or as "ready-made" pads. From analyses of the molecularly modified surfaces, we find that molecular coverage is poorer on low- than on high-doped n-GaAs. Electrical charge transport across the resulting interfaces was studied by current-voltage-temperature, internal photoemission, and capacitance-voltage measurements. The data were analyzed and compared with numerical simulations of interfaces that present inhomogeneous barriers for electron transport across them. For high-doped GaAs, we confirm that only the former, molecular dipole-dependent barrier is found. Although no clear molecular effects appear to exist with low-doped n-GaAs, those data are well explained by two coexisting barriers for electron transport, one with clear systematic dependence on molecular dipole (molecule-controlled regions) and a constant one (molecule-free regions, pinholes). This explains why directly observable molecular control over the barrier height is found with high-doped GaAs: there, the monolayer pinholes are small enough for their electronic effect not to be felt (they are "pinched off"). We conclude that molecules can control and tailor electronic devices need not form high-quality monolayers, bind chemically to both electrodes, or form multilayers to achieve complete surface coverage. Furthermore, the problem of stability during electron transport is significantly alleviated with molecular control via partial molecule coverage, as most current flows now between, rather than via, the molecules.

Journal Article↗

Electro-osmotic streaming on application of traveling-wave electric fields.

We describe ac electro-osmotic flow of an aqueous electrolyte on application of a traveling-wave electric field. Depending on the frequency of the applied traveling wave, the interaction of the electric double layer charge and the tangential electric field leads to fluid flow in the direction of the traveling wave. We have derived two theoretical models that describe this flow as a function of the amplitude of the applied electric potential, the signal frequency, and the material properties of the system. The first is based on a capacitative model and is limited to frequencies much lower than the double layer relaxation frequency. The second is an analytical solution of the electrokinetic equations and is also valid at higher frequencies. We provide experimental evidence that streaming takes place on application of a traveling wave of potential by tracing the movements of fluorescent latex beads over a spiral electrode structure. Streaming takes place at applied potentials low enough for the method to be easily integrated into lab-on-a-chip devices.

Journal Article↗

Interaction between inhibitory and excitatory synaptic potentials at a peripheral neurone.

1. The interaction between inhibitory and excitatory synaptic potentials in neurones lying in the submucous plexus of guinea-pig ileum has been examined. 2. It was found that during an inhibitory conductance change, electrotonic potentials were more depressed in amplitude than were excitatory synaptic potentials. 3. It is suggested that inhibitory conductance changes may have only a slight effect on the impedance seen by excitatory synaptic currents as much of the excitatory synaptic current flow is likely to be capacitive. 4. A part of the depression of excitatory synaptic potential amplitude was not associated with changes in electrical properties of neurones and it is suggested that inhibitory transmitter may reduce the release of excitatory transmitter.

Action Potentials↗

Omega-conotoxin-sensitive and -resistant transmitter release from the chick ciliary presynaptic terminal.

1. Synaptically evoked responses to stimulation of the oculomotor nerve were recorded from the ciliary nerve in chick embryos. The postsynaptic currents in response to presynaptic stimulation (EPSCs) were also recorded under whole-cell voltage clamp of the ciliary cell. 2. The ciliary nerve response was dependent on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o). omega-Conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTX, 100 nM) increased the [Ca2+]o necessary to evoke the half-maximal response by a factor of 1.7 without changing the slope of [Ca2+]o dependence. Dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives, nifedipine or Bay K 8644, did not affect the [Ca2+]o sensitivity of ciliary nerve response. 3. The EPSC was usually preceded by the capacitive coupling response of the presynaptic action potential. In some records, the EPSCs were also preceded by the electrical coupling responses which were the mirror images of the presynaptic action potentials. The current-voltage relation of the EPSCs showed inward rectification. 4. The EPSC was potentiated by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) as a result of prolongation of the falling phase of presynaptic action potential. In the presence of high [Ca2+]o and 4-AP, a small fraction of EPSC was resistant to omega-CgTX. 5. The resting potential of the presynaptic terminal was changed from -69 to -57 mV by increasing [K+]o from 1 to 10 mM. The same procedure decreased the omega-CgTX-resistant EPSC by 30%, whereas the omega-CgTX-untreated EPSC in low-Ca2+ saline was not affected by the change in [K+]o. 6. The nerve-evoked increase in intracellular Ca2+ was recorded from the presynaptic terminal (delta[Ca2+]pre). The delta[Ca2+]pre was larger in a solution containing 10 mM Ca2+ and 1 mM K+ after treating with omega-CgTX than in a solution containing 2 mM Ca2+ and 16 mM Mg2+ before treating with omega-CgTX. The EPSC was, in contrast, smaller in the 10 mM Ca(2+)-1 mM K+ solution after omega-CgTX treatment than in the 2 mM Ca(2+)-16 mM Mg2+ solution before omega-CgTX treatment. 7. Similarly, the EPSC was smaller in the 10 mM Ca(2+)-1 mM K+ solution containing 5 microM La3+ than in the 2 mM Ca(2+)-16 mM Mg2+ solution, whereas the delta [Ca2+]pre was larger in the 10 mM Ca(2+)-1 mM K+ solution containing 5 micrograms La3+ than in the 2 mM Ca(2+)-16 mM Mg2+ solution. 8. It is concluded that the omega-CgTX-sensitive Ca2+ conductance of the presynaptic terminal is the principal source of Ca2+ involved in transmitter release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Disinfection by electrohydraulic treatment.

Electrohydraulic treatment was applied to suspensions of Escherichia coli, spores of Bacillus subtilis var. niger, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and bacteriophage T2 at an input energy that, in most cases, was below the energy required to sterilize. The input energy was held relatively constant for each of these microorganisms, but the capacitance and voltage were varied. Data are presented which show the degree of disinfection as a function of capacitance and voltage. In all cases, the degree of disinfection for a given input energy increases as both capacitance and voltage are lowered.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Invaginated membrane in crustacean tonic muscle fibers: estimates of membrane capacitance.

Surface and volume densities of the invaginated membrane components of tonic muscle fibers of crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) were determined by stereological methods. Surface densities of the sarcolemma, sarcolemmal invaginations, T tubules and Z tubules were 2.0, 5.9, 26.3, and 3.3 micron2/100 micron3 of fiber, respectively, and volume densities of the sarcolemmal invaginations, T tubules, and Z tubules were 0.28, 0.29, and 0.08 micron3/100 micron3. The values obtained for surface density show that 95% of the membrane exposed to the extracellular environment is composed of invaginated membrane. Specific membrane capacitance, determined from square-wave pulse analysis and referred to the apparent area of surface sarcolemma, was 30.3 muF/cm2. However, after correction for the extent of invaginated membrane, the specific membrane capacitance was 1.6 muF/cm2.

Animals↗

Success, safety, and late electrophysiological outcome of low-energy direct-current ablation in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous ablation of accessory pathways with the use of a defibrillator can be accomplished with high-energy direct-current (DC) shocks of 150-400 J, but complications include cardiac tamponade and sudden cardiac death, mostly resulting from significant electrical arcing and barotrauma. A new low-energy DC power source with a brief time-constant capacitive discharge delivers shocks of 2-40 J and eliminates or greatly reduces arcing. This report describes our initial experience with this device in 60 consecutive patients (mean age, 34 years; range, 9-67 years) with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Accessory pathways were located in the left free wall in 36 patients, in the right free wall in two, were posteroseptal in 18, and anteroseptal in four. Most patients (77%) had their initial diagnostic electrophysiological study and catheter ablation during the same session. METHODS AND RESULTS: Selective ablation of accessory pathways was successful in 55 patients (92%). The mean cumulative energy was 312 +/- 284 J and the mean creatine kinase MB peak (normal, 0-30 units) was 42 +/- 27 units. Patients with left free wall accessory pathways required less procedure time for ablation (2.7 +/- 0.8 versus 3.6 +/- 1.5 hours, p less than 0.0007) and less fluoroscopy time (46 +/- 24 versus 66 +/- 33 minutes, p less than 0.002). Complications were limited to transient pericarditis (three patients), one iliac artery dissection, and cardiac tamponade probably caused by catheter repositioning in the coronary sinus (one patient). An electrophysiological study was repeated in 50 of the 55 successful cases at a mean of 9 +/- 5 months. This study was normal in 48 of 50 (96%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Low-energy DC ablation is safe and effective treatment for accessory pathways in children and adults. The long-term outcome is excellent as documented by electrophysiological restudy.

Adult↗