Theory of electromechanical effects in nerve.
The electromechanical transduction mechanisms operating in nerve membranes are considered theoretically. For mechanical-to-electrical transduction (mechanical generator potentials), a model is proposed in which the surface charge on the membrane mediates stress-induced changes in the intramembrane electric field, thus opening transmembrane ion conductance channels or reducing the ion selectivity of the membrane via leak conductance pathways. For electrical-to-mechanical transduction (axon diameter change with excitation), an investigation into two well-known electrostatic properties of dielectrics, electrostriction and piezoelectricity, in the context of the nerve membrane is undertaken which predicts a few percent change in axon dimensions for voltage- and space-clamped axons.
D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009441:Neurilemma / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*
D007473:Ion Channels