The electrical constants of the ventral longitudinal muscle fibres of the stick insect Carausius morosus were determined by analysing the low-frequency cable properties of the fibre using short cable theory. At 20 °C in normal Ringer the membrane conductance (Gm) was 0.32 mmho.cm2, the sarcoplasmic conductivity (Gl) was 6.69 mmho/cm2 and the membrane capacity (Cm) was 12.2μF/cm2. In this solution the length constant (λ) was 2.13 mm and averaged 130% of the fibre length. Hypertonic (x 2) Ringers had no significant effect on Gi but increased the membrane conductance by about 35%. The effect of temperature on the electrical constants was also investigated: the temperature coefficient (Q10) of Gm was 1.44 and that of Gi was 1.41. The Q10 of the membrane capacity was 1.11.
The Electrical Constants of the Skeletal Muscle Fibres of the Stick Insect, Carausius Morosus
FRANCES M. ASHCROFT; The Electrical Constants of the Skeletal Muscle Fibres of the Stick Insect, Carausius Morosus. J Exp Biol 1 June 1980; 86 (1): 249–258. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.86.1.249
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