Optical recording of action potentials from vertebrate nerve terminals using potentiometric probes provides evidence for sodium and calcium components

Nature. 1983 Nov;306(5938):36-40. doi: 10.1038/306036a0.

Abstract

Optical methods are shown to monitor action potentials from a population of nerve terminals in the neurohypophysis of Xenopus. Calcium antagonists such as cadmium and nickel ions block a component of the action potential that probably reflects a calcium-mediated potassium conductance, and tetrodotoxin blocks an inward sodium current, revealing a calcium component to the action potential upstroke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials* / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Cadmium / pharmacology
  • Calcium / physiology*
  • Hypothalamus / physiology
  • Nickel / pharmacology
  • Pituitary Gland, Posterior / physiology*
  • Sodium / physiology*
  • Tetrodotoxin / pharmacology
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • Cadmium
  • Tetrodotoxin
  • Nickel
  • Sodium
  • Calcium