[Hydrogen ion currents through sodium channels in myelinated nerve fiber membranes]

Ionic currents in the nodal membrane of myelinated frog nerve fibre were measured under voltage clamp conditions when the Ranvier node was bathed in solutions containing impermeant cations instead Na. At pH lower than 4.0 small (less than 0.1 nA) currents were detected which rose to peak and then decayed more slowly. Kinetics and voltage range of activation of these currents were similar to those of usual sodium currents at low pH. These currents were reversibly blocked by benzocaine (1 mM). All this permitted identifying them as currents through sodium channels. Experiments in which concentrations of substituting cations (tris+, choline+), Ca2+ and H+ ions were varied showed that the inward currents observed are carried by hydrogen (or hydronium) ions. According to reversal potential measurements the relative permeability of the channels (PH/PNa) is equal to 203 +/- 14 on the average. It is concluded that the energy barriers for H+ in sodium channel are much lower than for Na+, but their passage through the channel is slow because of binding to an acidic group in the channel.