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Large and persistent electrical currents enter the transected lamprey spinal cord.

R B Borgens, L F Jaffe, M J Cohen

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|February 1, 1980

Summary

Electrical currents enter transected lamprey spinal cords after injury, primarily composed of sodium (Na+) and calcium (Ca2+) ions. This ion influx may influence neuronal degeneration and regeneration following axotomy.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Electrophysiology
Cell Biology

Background:

Following nerve injury, electrical currents are generated at the site of transection.
Understanding these currents is crucial for comprehending neuronal responses to damage.

Purpose of the Study:

To measure and characterize the electrical currents at the surface of a transected lamprey spinal cord.
To investigate the ionic composition and biological significance of these injury currents.

Main Methods:

Utilized an extracellular vibrating probe to measure electrical currents on an isolated, transected lamprey spinal cord.
Analyzed current changes over time (up to 6 days post-transection).
Assessed the contribution of specific ions (Na+, Ca2+) by altering the medium's ionic composition.

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Main Results:

Observed significant electrical currents entering the cut surface of the spinal cord immediately after transection (approx. 0.5 mA/cm2).
Currents rapidly decreased within the first hour and continued to decline over 2 days, stabilizing thereafter.
Identified peaks in current entry opposite the cut ends of giant axons.
Determined that Na+ and Ca2+ constitute a significant portion of the injury current.

Conclusions:

The substantial ion influx (Na+, Ca2+) into the injured spinal cord alters local ionic composition.
These injury-induced currents and associated ion changes likely play a role in neuronal degenerative and regenerative processes after axotomy.