Metal ion-induced permeability changes in cell membranes: a minireview

1. The paper summarizes the effects of the metal ions Cu2+, Pb2+, Ag+, Hg2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ applied externally or internally to the surface membrane of different excitable cells. 2. Conductance changes induced by metal ions, and metal ion-activated current, are compared with respect to their ion and voltage dependence. 3. It is suggested that metal ion-induced effects can be realized through special structures of the cell membrane, the metal ion "receptors," although other mechanisms, as, for example, competition for Ca-binding sites in the channel forming proteins, cannot be excluded.