Analysis of Spike Electrogenesis and Depolarizing K Inactivation in Electroplaques of Electrophorus electricus, L

Voltage clamp analyses, combined with pharmacological tools demonstrate the independence of reactive Na and K channels in electrically excitable membrane of eel electroplaques. Spike electrogenesis is due to Na activation and is eliminated by tetrodotoxin or mussel poison, or by substituting choline, K, Cs, or Rb for Na in the medium. The K channels remain reactive, but K activation is always absent, the electroplaques responding only with K inactivation. This is indicated by an increased resistance when the membrane is depolarized by more than about 30 mv. The resting resistance (1 to 5 ohm cm(2)) is dependent upon the ionic conditions, but when K inactivation occurs the resistance becomes about 10 ohm cm(2) in all conditions. K inactivation does not change the EMF significantly. The transition from low to high resistance may give rise to a negative-slope voltage current characteristic, and to regenerative inactivation responses under current clamp. The further demonstration that pharmacological K inactivation (by Cs or Rb) leaves Na activation and spike electrogenesis unaffected emphasizes the independence of the reactive processes and suggests different chemical compositions for the membrane structures through which they operate.