Cytochemical evidence for an inhomogeneous distribution of sodium channels in the squid giant axon.
In a light microscopic study the ferric ion-ferrocyanide staining of the squid giant axon was investigated. In other neurons this stain is known to indicate excitable membranes with high sodium channel density, such as the node of Ranvier or the initial segment. In the squid the stain reacted in small patches of the axolemmal, suggesting an aggregation of sodium channels. These axolemma patches were always adjacent to the nuclei of special Schwann cells, suggesting a glial-axonal interaction.
Greeff
N G
NG
Akert
K
K
Sandri
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D049832:Decapodiformes; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
D007473:Ion Channels; D012964:Sodium