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Related Concept Videos

Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

Overview
Resting Membrane Potential01:24

Resting Membrane Potential

The relative difference in electrical charge, or voltage, between the inside and the outside of a cell membrane, is called the membrane potential. It is generated by differences in permeability of the membrane to various ions and the concentrations of these ions across the membrane.
The Inside of a Neuron is More Negative
The membrane potential of a cell can be measured by inserting a microelectrode into a cell and comparing the charge to a reference electrode in the extracellular fluid. The...
Resting Potential Decay01:15

Resting Potential Decay

The resting membrane potential of a neuron (-70mV) is sustained due to the selective ion permeability of the membrane. At the resting potential, the membrane is slightly permeable to ions like sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−) and highly permeable to potassium ions (K+). Differences in the ions' concentration inside the cell compared to the outside are maintained by membrane transport proteins like channels and pumps.
At rest, the K+ is the main ion that moves across the membrane through...
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview01:21

Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview

An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement is influenced by two factors:
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell.  This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to the...
Resting Potential Decay01:15

Resting Potential Decay

The resting membrane potential of a neuron (-70mV) is sustained due to the selective ion permeability of the membrane. At the resting potential, the membrane is slightly permeable to ions like sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−) and highly permeable to potassium ions (K+). Differences in the ions' concentration inside the cell compared to the outside are maintained by membrane transport proteins like channels and pumps.
At rest, the K+ is the main ion that moves across the membrane through...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Double-barreled and Concentric Microelectrodes for Measurement of Extracellular Ion Signals in Brain Tissue
11:08

Double-barreled and Concentric Microelectrodes for Measurement of Extracellular Ion Signals in Brain Tissue

Published on: September 5, 2015

Potassium currents in developing neurons.

A B Ribera1

  • 1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA. Angie.Ribera@UCHSC.edu

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|July 22, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Delayed rectifier potassium currents (IKv) mature uniformly in diverse Xenopus spinal neurons. This synchronous functional development is surprisingly achieved through heterogeneous expression of Kv channel genes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Voltage-dependent potassium currents (IKv) are crucial for action potential maturation in Xenopus spinal neurons.
  • These currents transition action potentials from calcium-dependent to sodium-dependent.
  • Spinal neurons exhibit functional IKv up-regulation synchronously during development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular basis of synchronized IKv developmental up-regulation in heterogeneous Xenopus spinal neurons.
  • To reconcile the homogeneous functional development of IKv with potential molecular heterogeneity.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings to assess IKv function.
  • Molecular cloning techniques to identify expressed Kv channel genes.

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Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain

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Voltage-Dependent Potassium Current Recording on H9c2 Cardiomyocytes via the Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Technique

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Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

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11:08

Double-barreled and Concentric Microelectrodes for Measurement of Extracellular Ion Signals in Brain Tissue

Published on: September 5, 2015

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain
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Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain

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  • Comparative analysis of gene expression across different neuron types.

    • Main Results:

    • IKv currents show homogeneous developmental up-regulation across diverse spinal neuron populations.
    • Molecular studies revealed unexpected heterogeneity in the expression of Kv channel genes.
    • Synchronous IKv differentiation is accomplished through diverse combinations of Kv channel gene expression.

    Conclusions:

    • Despite functional homogeneity, the molecular underpinnings of IKv development in Xenopus spinal neurons are heterogeneous.
    • Diverse Kv channel gene expression patterns converge to produce a synchronized functional outcome.
    • This suggests complex regulatory mechanisms coordinating channel expression during neuronal development.