title: X-ray scattering study of pike olfactory nerve: elastic, thermodynamic and physiological properties of the axonal membrane.
abstract: The effects of several agents, sugars, isotonic KCl, and a variety of drugs, on the structure of the axonal membranes of unmyelinated pike olfactory nerve have been studied by synchrotron radiation X-ray scattering experiments. The main effects of the sugars are: (i) to increase the electron density of the extra-axonal space and thereby yield the absolute scale of the electron density profile; (ii) to osmotically stress the membrane and thus yield its elastic modulus of area compressibility, since the related strain, thickness dilation, is directly determined by the X-ray scattering experiments. Exposure to isotonic KCl, a depolarizing agent, induces membrane thickness to increase. The energy liberated in this process is a function of the amplitude of the dilation and of the elastic modulus of the membrane. This energy turns out to be close to the thermal energy liberated by the pike olfactory nerve during the initial phase of action potential that has previously been measured by others. Electrical depolarization thus seems to be accompanied by a thickness dilation of the axonal membrane. Another effect of isotonic KCl is to induce a large fraction of the membranes to pair by tight apposition of their extra-axonal faces. Local anaesthetics and some drugs have the effect of altering membrane thickness. All these observations are interpreted in terms of a modulation of the conformational disorder of the hydrocarbon chains of the lipid molecules.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, UPR 2167 CNRS associée à l'Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France. luzzati@cgm.cnrs-gif.fr
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Luzzati
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Charpentier
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vachette
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D017859:Esocidae / Q000502:physiology*; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009832:Olfactory Nerve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013997:Time Factors; D014701:Veratridine
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002241:Carbohydrates; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D009498:Neurotoxins; D013748:Tetracaine; D008353:Mannitol; D013395:Sucrose; D010042:Ouabain; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D014701:Veratridine