title: The effect of n-alkanols on the stationary current voltage behavior and action potential of myelinated nerve.
abstract: Stationary current voltage characteristics and the action potential of single myelinated nerve fibres were measured to examine the effect of n-alkanols (methanol to octanol) on the electrophysiological function of the axon membrane. K+-depolarized membranes show alkanol-dependent shifts of VTr, the membrane transition voltage, whereas in veratridine-depolarized membranes such VTr-shifts are not observed. In the latter case, n-alkanols reduce both the stationary Na+ current and the conductivity step between the high- and low-ohmic conductivity state of the membrane. Action potential amplitude, however, is less affected by the alkanols as is the stationary Na+ current. The results are compared with the alkanol-dependent changes of the thermotropic phase transition in phospholipid bilayers.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008081:Liposomes; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011893:Rana esculenta; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D008081:Liposomes; D012964:Sodium