Action potential in neurons of motor nerve net of Cyanea (Coelenterata)

Neurons of the motor nerve net of the jellyfish Cyanea were impaled with microelectrodes for intracellular recordings. The cells have conventional, negative resting potentials and produce variable-amplitude action potentials with complex waveforms. The variability and complexity of these spikes is due to the superimposition of two classes of Ca2+-dependent potentials on an otherwise fast, clean action potential. Repetitive stimulation and ionic manipulation reveal that most superimposed potentials are chemically induced excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). These account for the complexity and variability of the action potential. The remaining potential is interpreted as a Ca2+ component of the action potential. The action potential is a Na+-dependent but tetrodotoxin- (TTX) insensitive event. Repolarization is achieved by two pharmacologically distinct mechanisms: a tetraethylammonium- (TEA) and 4-amino-pyridine- (4-AP) sensitive K+ efflux and a delayed, Ca2+-activated, K+ efflux. The latter is responsible for the afterhyperpolarization that follows the action potential. The results indicated that these neurons are physiologically conventional. This is interesting in view of the phylogenetic primitiveness of the preparation and important, since it means that this preparation can provide generally useful information on chemical synaptic physiology.