Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Effects of Various Ions on the Resting and Action Potentials of the Giant Nerve Cells of the Leech Hirudo medicinalis

Nature volume 214, pages 1351–1352 (1967)Cite this article

Abstract

IN each segmental ganglion of the leech, pairs of colossal cells (cell of Retzius) are found and bidirectional electrotonic type of transmission exists between these two neurones1,2. The amplitude of the spike is small, in the range of 20–30 mV. Because the resting potential of the cell is 30–50 mV, no obvious overshoot occurs. It is thought that no conduction of impulses occurs in the cell bodies of colossal cells1,2. This communication considers the effect of various ions on the electrical activity and electrical connexion between these cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hagiwara, J., and Morita, H., J. Neurophysiol., 25, 721 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Eckert, R., J. Gen. Physiol., 46, 573 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Nicholls, J. C., and Kuffler, S. W., J. Neurophysiol., 27, 645 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Penn, R. D., and Loewenstein, W. R., Science, 151, 88 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Koketsu, K., Proc. Twenty-third Intern. Cong. Physiol. Sci., 521 (Tokyo, 1965).

  6. Frankenhaeuser, B., and Hodgkin, A. L., J. Physiol., 137, 218 (1957).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tasaki, I., Teorell, T., and Spyropoulos, C. S., Amer. J. Physiol., 200, 11 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kiev

    V. D. GERASIMOV

  2. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad

    G. N. AKOEV

Authors
  1. V. D. GERASIMOV
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. N. AKOEV
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GERASIMOV, V., AKOEV, G. Effects of Various Ions on the Resting and Action Potentials of the Giant Nerve Cells of the Leech Hirudo medicinalis. Nature 214, 1351–1352 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2141351b0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2141351b0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing