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Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Historical View and Physiology Demonstration at the NMJ of the Crayfish Opener Muscle
Published on: November 9, 2009
Mechanical and thermal changes in the Torpedo electric organ associated with its postsynaptic potentials
1Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Abstract:
Rapid mechanical and thermal changes in slices of the Torpedo electric organ evoked by electric stimulation were investigated. The organ was found to swell simultaneously with the postsynaptic potential. This swelling was followed by prolonged shrinkage of the organ. These findings may be explained from the proven facts that the acetylcholine(ACh)-receptor proteins have a large binding capacity for Ca-ions and that addition of ACh to the medium can cause release of Ca-ions from the receptor proteins.
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