Abstract
The general electrophysiology of sensory receptors is concerned basically with the mechanisms by which changes in the environment are transformed (transduced) into a language that is intelligible to the nervous system. To satisfy this function, the signals transported by the sensory neuron must carry a reasonable facsimile of the information that was received (sensed) at the input. They must also be capable of propagation, including the capacity for transmission from one cell to another in the synaptic and/or ephaptic chains of the nervous system. In this context, the principles of the general electrophysiology of sensory receptors can be encompassed within the varieties of activity that bring the sensory data into the nervous system via the individual sensory neuron. The various requirements for specificity of the information and for its modulation with respect to stimulus conditions or states of the organism generally involve large assemblies of neurons. Although these functions are vital to the total behavioral reactions of the animal to the primary stimulus, they are of secondary importance in the present context.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beidler, L. M.: Comparison of gustatory receptors, olfactory receptors, and free nerve endings. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 191–200 (1965).
— Smallman, R.: Renewal of cells within taste buds. J. Cell Biol. 27, 263–272 (1965).
Bennett, M. V. L.: Physiology of electronic junctions. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 37, 509–539 (1966).
— Mechanisms of electroreception. In: Lateral line detectors. Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press 1967.
— Aljure, E., Nakajima, Y., Pappas, G. D.: Electrotonic junctions between teleost spinal neurons: electrophysiology and ultrastructure. Science 141, 262–264 (1963).
— Nakajima, Y., Pappas, G. D.: Physiology and ultrastructure of electrotonic junctions. I. The supramedullary neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 161–179 (1967a).
— — — Physiology and ultrastructure of electrotonic junctions. III. The giant electromotor neurons of Malapterurus electricus. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 209–235 (1967b).
— Pappas, G. D., Aljure, E., Nakajima, Y.: Physiology and ultrastructure of electrotonic junctions. II. Spinal and medullary electromotor nuclei in mormyrid fish. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 180–208 (1967c).
— — Gimenez, M., Nakajima, Y.: Physiology and ultrastructure of electrotonic junctions. IV. Medullary pacemaker and relay nuclei of the electromotor system of the gymnotid fish. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 236–300 (1967c).
Benolken, R. M., Russell, C. J.: Dissection of a graded visual response with tetrodotoxin. In: The functional organization of the compound eye. London: Pergamon Press 1966.
Bethe, A.: Das Zentralnervensystem von Carduus maenas. Arch. f. Mikr. Anat. 50, 589–634 (1897).
Bloedel, J., Gage, P. W., Llinas, R., Quastel, D. M. J.: Transmitter release at the squid giant synapse in the presence of tetrodotoxin. Nature (Lond.) 212, 49–50 (1966).
Boeckh, J., Kaissling, K. E., Schneider, D.: Insect olfactory receptors. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 263–280 (1965).
Borsellino, A., Fuortes, M. G. F., Smith, T. G.: Visual responses in Limulus. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol., 30, 429–443 (1965).
Brown, K. T., Wiesel, T. N.: Intraretinal recording with micropipette electrodes in the intact cat eye. J. Physiol. 149, 537–562 (1959).
Clark, A. W., Millechia, R., Mauro, A.: The ventral photoreceptor cells of Limulus. I. The microanatomy. J. gen. Physiol. 54, 289–309 (1969).
Cohen, M. J.: The crustacean myochordotonal organ as a proprioceptive system. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 8, 223–243 (1963).
Cone, R. A., Pak, W. L.: The early receptor potential. In: Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. I, pp. 345–365. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
Davis, H.: Some principles of sensory receptor action. Physiol. Rev. 41, 391–416 (1961).
— A model for transducer action in the Cochlea. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 181–190 (1965).
Davis, L., Jr., LorentedeNo, R.: Contribution to the mathematical theory of the electrotonus. In: A study of nerve physiology. New York: Studies from the Rockefeller Inst. Vol. 131, 1947.
DeLorenzo, A. J. D.: Studies on the ultrastructure and histophysiology of cell membranes, nerve fibers and synaptic junctions in chemoreceptors. In: Olfaction and taste. New York: Pergamon Press 1963.
Dethier, V. G.: Vision. In: Insect physiology. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Inc. 1953.
— The physiology of insect senses. London: Methner 1963.
Dijkgraaf, S.: Biological significance of the lateral line organs. In: Lateral line detectors. Bloomington: Indian Univ. Press 1967.
Dowling, J. E.: Discrete potentials in the dark-adapted eye of the crab Limulus. Nature (Lond.) 217, 28–31 (1968).
— Boycott, B. B.: Neural connections of the retina: fine structure of the inner plexiform layer. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 393–402 (1965).
Dudel, J.: Presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of inhibitory drugs on the crayfish neuromuscular junction. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 283, 104–118 (1965).
Eccles, J. C.: The physiology of synapses. Berlin Göttingen-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1964.
Edwards, C., Ottoson, D.: The site of impulse initiation in a nerve cell of a crustacean stretch receptor. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 143, 138–148 (1958).
— Terzuolo, C. A., Washizu, Y.: The effect of changes of the ionic environment upon an isolated crustacean sensory neuron. J. Neurophysiol. 26, 948–957 (1963).
Elmquist, D., Feldman, D. S.: Spontaneous activity at a mammalian neuromuscular junction in tetrodotoxin. Acta physiol. scand. 64, 475–477 (1965).
Epstein, E., Grundfest, H.: Desensitization of Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Receptors in Muscle Fibers of the Crab, Cancer borealis. J. gen. Physiol. 56, 33–45 (1970).
Eyzaguirre, C., Koyano, H.: Origin of sensory discharges in carotid body chemoreceptors. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 227–231 (1965).
Farbman, A. I.: Fine structure of the taste bud. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 12, 328–350 (1965).
Farquhar, M. G., Palade, G. E.: Junctional complexes in various epithelia. J. Cell Biol. 17, 375–412 (1963).
Fetz, E. E.: Pyramidal tract effects on interneurons in the cat lumbar dorsal horn. J. Neurophysiol. 31, 69–80 (1968).
Flock, Å.: Ultrastructure and function in the lateral line organs. In: Lateral line detectors. Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press 1967.
— Sensory transduction in hair cells. In: Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. I, pp. 396–441. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
Fuortes, M. G. F.: Generation of responses in receptor. In: Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. I, pp. 243–268. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
Furukawa, T., Ishii, Y.: Effects of static bending of sensory hairs on sound reception in the gooldfish. Japan. J. Physiol. 17, 572–588 (1967a).
— Neurophysiological studies on hearing in goldfish. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 1377–1403 (1967b).
Goldman, D. E.: The transducer action of mechanoreceptor membranes. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 59–68 (1965).
Grampp, W.: The impulse activity in different parts of the slowly adapting stretch receptor neuron of the lobster. Acta physiol. scand. 66, Suppl. 262, 1–36 (1966).
Granit, R.: Receptors and sensory perception. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press 1955.
Grundfest, H.: The nature of the electrochemical potentials of bioelectric tissues. In: Electrochemistry in biology and medicine. New York: John Wiley Sons, Inc. 1955.
— Electrical inexcitability of synapses and some of its consequences in the central nervous system. Physiol. Rev. 37, 337–361, (1957a).
— Excitation triggers in post-junctional cells. In: Physiological triggers. Washington, D. C.: Amer. Physiol. Society 1957 b.
— The mechnisms of discharge of the electric organs in relation to general and comparative electrophysiology. Progr. Biophys. 7, 1–85 (1957c).
— General problems of drug action on bioelectric phenomena. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 66, 537–591 (1957d).
— An electrophysiological basis for cone vision in fish. Arch. ital. Biol. 96, 135–144 (1958 a)
— Discussion. In: Electrophysiology of the visual system. Amer. J. Ophthal. 46, II, 43–46 (1958b).
—: Electrophysiology and pharmacology of dendrites. Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol. Suppl. 10, 22–41 (1958c).
— Synaptic and ephaptic transmission. In: Handbook of Physiology: Neurophysiology I. Washington, D. C.: Amer. Physiol. Soc. 1959a.
Grundfest, H.: Evolution of conduction in the nervous system. In: Evolution of nervous control. Washington, D. C.: Amer. Ass. Advanc. Sci. 1959b.
— Functional specifications for membranes in excitable cells. In: Regional neurochemistry. London: Pergamon Press 1961a.
— General physiology and pharmacology of junctional transmission. In: Biophysics of physiological and pharmacological actions. Washington, D. C.: Amer. Ass. Advanc. Sci. 1961b.
— Ionic mechanisms in electrogenesis. Amnn. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 94, 405–457 (1961c).
— Excitation by hyperpolarizing potentials. A general theory of receptor activities. In: Nervous inhibition. London: Pergamon Press 1961d.
— Impulse conducting properties of cells. In: The general physiology of cell specialization. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. 1963.
— Evolution of electrophysiological varieties among sensory receptor systems. In: Essays on physiological evolution. London: Pergamon Press 1964a.
— Effects of drugs on the central nervous system. Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. 4, 341–364 (1964b).
— Electrophysiology and pharmacology of different components of bioelectric transducers. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 1–14 (1965).
— Comparative electrobiology of excitable membranes. In: Advances in comparative physiology and biochemistry, Vol. 2. New York: Academic Press, Inc. 1966a.
— Heterogeneity of excitable membrane: electrophysiological and pharmacological evidence and some consequences. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 137, 901–949 (1966b).
— Some comparative biological aspects of membrane permeability control. Fed. Proc. 27, 1613–1626 (1967a).
— Synaptic and ephaptic transmission. In: The neurosciences. A study program. New York: Rockefeller Univ. Press 1967b.
— Tetrodotoxin: action on graded responses. Science 156, 1771 (1967 c).
— Bennett, M. V. L.: Studies on morphology and electrophysiology of electric organs. I. Electrophysiology of marine fishes. In: Bioelectrogenesis. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1961.
— Kao, C.-Y., Altamirano, M.: Bioelectric effects of ions microinjected into the giant axon of Loligo. J. gen. Physiol. 38, 245–282 (1954).
— Reuben, J. P.: Neuromuscular synaptic activity in lobster. In: Nervous inhibition. London: Pergamon Press 1961.
Hagiwara, S., Kusano, K., Saito, N.: Membrane changes in crayfish stretch receptor neuron during inhibition and under action of gamma-aminobutyric acid. J. Neurophysiol. 23, 505–515 (1960).
Hartline, H. K., Ratliff, F.: Inhibitory interaction of receptor units in the eye of Limulus. J. gen. Physiol. 40, 357–376 (1957).
Hecht, S.: Vision. II. The nature of the photoreceptor process. In: A handbook of general experimental psychology. Worcester, Mass.: Clark Univ. Press 1934.
Hodgkin, A. L.: The local electric changes associated with repetitive action in a non-medullated axon. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 107, 165–181 (1948).
— Huxley, A. F.: A quantitative description of membrane current and its application to conduction and excitation in nerve. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 117, 500–544 (1952).
— Rushton, W. A. H.: The electrical constants of a crustacean nerve fibre. Proc. Roy. Soc. (London) B. 133, 444–479 (1946).
Hodgson, E. S.: Chemoreception. In: The physiology of insecta, Vol. 1. New York: Academic Press Inc. 1964.
Hunt, C. C., Takeuchi, A.: Responses of the nerve terminal of the Pacinian corpuscle. J. Physiol. 160, 1–21 (1962).
Katz, B.: The release of neural transmitter substances. Liverpool: Liverpool Univ. Press 1969.
— Miledi, R.: Tetrodotoxin and neuromuscular transmission. Proc. roy. Soc. (London) B. 167, 8–22 (1967a).
— Miledi, R.: A study of synaptic transmission in the absence of nerve impulses. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 192, 407–436 (1967b).
— — Microelectrode study of taste receptors of rat and hamster. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 58, 131–140 (1961).
Koketsu, K.: Mechanism of active depolarization. Dispensability of sodium. In: Biophysics of physiological and pharmacological actions. Washington, D. C.: Amer. Ass. Advanc. Sci. 1961.
Kuffler, S. W.: Discharge patterns and functional organization of mammalian retina. J. Neurophysiol. 16, 37–68 (1953).
— Eyzaguirre, C.: Synaptic inhibitions in an isolated nerve cell. J. gen. Physiol. 39, 155–184 (1955).
— Hunt, C. C.: The mammalian small-nerve fibers: a system for efferent nervous regulation of muscle spindle discharge. Res. Publ. Ass. nerv. ment. Dis. 30, 24–47 (1952).
Kusano, K., Livengood, D. R., Werman, R.: Correlation of transmitter release with membrane properties of presynaptic fibers of the squid giant synapse. J. gen. Physiol. 50, 2579–2597 (1967).
Loewenstein, W. R.: Permeability of membrane junctions. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 137, 441–472 (1966).
— Mechano-electric transduction in the Pacinian Corpuscle. Initiation of the sensory impulses in the mechanoreceptors. In: Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. I, pp. 269–290. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
— Terzuolo, C. A., Washizu, Y.: Separation of transducer and impulse generating processes in sensory receptors. Science 142, 1180–1181 (1963).
Lundberg, A.: Secretory potentials and secretion in the sublingual gland of the cat. Nature (Lond.) 177, 1080–1081 (1956).
MacNichol, E. F., Jr., Svaetichin, G.: Electric responses from isolated retinas of fishes. Amer. J. Ophthal. 46, 26–46 (1958).
Millecchia, R., Bradbury, J., Mauro, A.: Simple photoreceptors in Limulus polyphemus. Science 154, 1199–1201 (1966).
— Mauro, A.: The ventral photoreceptor cells of Limulus. II. The basic photoresponse. J. gen. Physiol. 54, 310–330(1969a).
Millecchia, R., Mauro, A.: The ventral photoreceptor cells of Limulus. III. A voltage clamp study. J. gen. Physiol. 54, 331–351 (1969b).
Moulton, D. G., Beidler, L. M.: Structure and function in the peripheral olfactory system. Physiol. Rev. 47, 1–52 (1967).
Nakajima, S.: Adaptation in stretch receptor neurons of crayfish. Science 146, 1168–1170 (1964).
— Onodera, K.: Membrane properties of the stretch receptor neurones of atayfish with particular reference to mechanisms of sensory adaptatron. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 200, 161–185 (1969a).
— — Adaptation of the generator potential in the crayfish stretch receptors under constant length and constant tension. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 200, 187–204 (1969b).
— Takahashi, K.: Post-tetanic hyperpolarization and electrogenic Na-pump in stretch receptor neuron of crayfish. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 187, 105–127 (1966).
Oakley, B., Benjamin, R. M.: Neural mechanisms of taste. Physiol. Rev. 46, 173–211 (1966).
Obara, S.: Effects of some organic cations on generator potential of stretch receptor of crayfish. J. gen. Physiol. 52, 22–45 (1968).
— Grundfest, H.: Effects of lithium on different membrane components of crayfish stretch receptor neurons. J. gen. Physiol. 51, 635–654 (1968).
Ottoson, D., Shepherd, G. M.: Transducer properties and integrative mechanisms in the frog’s muscle spindle. In: Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. I, pp. 442–499. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
Ozeki, M., Freeman, A. R., Grundfest, H.: The membrane components of crustacean neuromuscular systems. I. Immunity of different electrogenic components to tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin. J. gen. Physiol. 49, 1319–1334 (1966).
— Grundfest, H.: Crayfish muscle fiber: ionic requirements for depolarizing synaptic electrogenesis. Science 155, 478–481 (1967).
— Sato, M.: Changes in the membrane potential and the membrane conductance associated with sustained compression of the nonmyelinated nerve terminal in Pacinian corpuscles. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 180, 186–208 (1965).
Purple, R. L., Dodge, F. A.: Interaction of excitation and inhibition in the eccentric cell in the eye of Limulus. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 529–537 (1965).
Reuben, J. P., Grundfest, H.: Inhibitory and excitatory miniature postsynaptic potentials in lobster muscle fibers. Biol. Bull. 119, 335 (1960).
— Werman, R., Grundfest, H.: The ionic mechanisms of hyperpolarizing responses in lobster muscle fibers. J. gen. Physiol. 45, 243–265 (1961).
Robbins, N.: The role of the nerve in maintenance of frog taste buds. Exp. Neurol. 17, 364–380 (1967).
Rushton, W. A. H.: Chemical basis of colour vision and colour blindness. Nature (Lond.) 206, 1087–1091 (1965).
Sato, M., Ozeki, M.: Response of the non-myelinated nerve terminal in Pacinian corpuscles to mechanical and antidromic stimulation and the effect of procaine, choline and cooling. Jap. J. Physiol. 13, 565–582 (1963).
Schaeffer, H.: Elektrophysiologie. Bd. I: Allgemeine Elektrophysiologie. Wien: Franz Deuticke 1940.
Smith, T. G., Baumann, F., Fuortes, M. G. F.: Electrical connections between visual cells in the ommatidium of Limulus. Science 147, 1446–1447 (1965).
Svaetichen, G.: Spectral response curves from single cones. Acta physiol. scand. 39, Suppl. 134, 17–112 (1956).
Tasaki, I.: Nerve excitation: A macromolecular approach. Springfield, Ill. C. C. Chomas 1968.
— Lerman, L., Watanabe, A.: Analysis of excitation process in squid giant axons under bi-ionic conditions. Amer. J. Physiol. 216, 130–138 (1969).
Terzuolo, C. A., Knox, C. K.: Static and dynamic behavior of the stretch receptor organ of Crustacea. In: Handbook of sensory physiology vol. I, pp. 500–522. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
Tomita, T.: Electrical activity in the vertebrate retina. J. Ophthal. Soc. Am. 53, 49–57 (1963).
— Kakeko, A., Murakami, M. Pautler, E. L.: Spectral response curves of single cones in the carp. Vision Res. 7, 519–531 (1967).
— Murakami, M., Hashimoto, Y., Sasaki, Y.: Electrical activity of single neurons in frog’s retina. In: The visual system: neuropharmacology and psychophysics. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1961.
Wald, G.: The receptor of human color vision, Science 145, 1007–1016 (1964).
Wall, P. D.: Presynaptic control of impulses at the first central synapse in the cutaneous pathway. In: Physiology of spinal neurons. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1964.
Watanabe, A., Grundfest, H.: Impulse propagation at the septal and commissural junctions of crayfish lateral giant axons. J. gen. Physiol. 45, 267–308 (1961).
Wiersma, C. A. G., Furshpan, E. J., Florey, E.: Physiological and pharmacological observations on the muscle receptor organs of the crayfish, Cambarus clarkii Girard. J. exp. Biol. 30, 136–150 (1953).
Witkovsky, P.: A comparison of ganglion cell and S-potential response properties in carp retina. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 546–561 (1967).
Wolbarsht, M. L.: Receptor sites in insect chemoreceptors. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant Biol. 30, 281–288 (1965).
— Hanson, F. E.: Electrical activity in the chemoreceptors of the blowfly. III. Dendritic action potentials. J. gen. Physiol. 48, 673–683 (1965).
Yamada, E., Ishikawa, T.: The fine structure of the horizontal cells in some vertebrate retinae. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 383–392 (1965).
Yamagishi, S.: Ionic mechanism of the prolonged spike of squint axons perfused with pertease. Soc. gen. Physiol. Woods Hole (Abstr.) 1969).
Zelena, J.: Development, degeneration and regeneration of receptor organs. In: Progress in brain research, Vol. 13: Mechanism of neural maturation. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1964.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1971 Springer-Verlag Berlin · Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Grundfest, H. (1971). The General Electrophysiology of Input Membrane in Electrogenic Excitable Cells. In: Loewenstein, W.R. (eds) Principles of Receptor Physiology. Handbook of Sensory Physiology, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-65063-5_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-65063-5_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-65065-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-65063-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive