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Related Experiment Videos

Nexal membrane permeability to anions

P R Brink, M M Dewey

    The Journal of General Physiology
    |July 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Earthworm median axon septa exhibit significant anion permeability, with nexus structures facilitating this transport. This finding offers insights into invertebrate neural signaling and membrane transport mechanisms.

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    Area of Science:

    • Neurobiology
    • Cell Biology
    • Biophysics

    Background:

    • The septa of earthworm median axons are known to contain nexuses, which are specialized cell junctions.
    • Understanding the permeability of these septa is crucial for comprehending signal transmission in invertebrates.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To quantify the permeability of earthworm median axon septa to specific anions.
    • To investigate the role of nexus structures in mediating this permeability.
    • To compare septal membrane permeability with plasma membrane permeability.

    Main Methods:

    • Calculation of anion permeability coefficients for fluorescein and its halogen derivatives across septal membranes.
    • Determination of nexus surface area using freeze-fracture electron microscopy.

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  • Measurement of plasma membrane permeability to the same dyes.
  • Estimation of cytoplasmic binding for each dye.

    • Main Results:

    • Septal membrane permeability values ranged from 5.4 X 10(-5) to 4 X 10(-6) cm/s for the tested anions.
    • Nexus structures occupied 4.5% of the septal membrane surface area.
    • Plasma membrane permeability was significantly lower than septal membrane permeability.
    • Most tested dyes showed minimal cytoplasmic binding, with aminofluorescein being an exception.

    Conclusions:

    • Earthworm median axon septa are highly permeable to anions, primarily facilitated by nexus structures.
    • The permeability characteristics suggest a role for septal nexuses in rapid intercellular communication.
    • These findings contribute to the understanding of ion and molecule transport across invertebrate neural membranes.