title: Initiation and blocking of the action potential in an axon in weak ultrasonic or microwave fields.
abstract: In this paper, we analyze the effect of the redistribution of the transmembrane ion channels in an axon caused by longitudinal acoustic vibrations of the membrane. These oscillations can be excited by an external source of ultrasound and weak microwave radiation interacting with the charges sitting on the surface of the lipid membrane. It is shown, using the Hodgkin-Huxley model of the axon, that the density redistribution of transmembrane sodium channels may reduce the threshold of the action potential, up to its spontaneous initiation. At the significant redistribution of sodium channels in the membrane, the rarefaction zones of the transmembrane channel density are formed, blocking the propagation of the action potential. Blocking the action potential propagation along the axon is shown to cause anesthesia in the example case of a squid axon. Various approaches to experimental observation of the effects considered in this paper are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Shneider
authors.affiliation: Drexel Plasma Institute, Drexel University, 200 Federal Street, Camden, New Jersey 08103, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pekker
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D049832:Decapodiformes; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects; D008959:Models, Neurological; D011312:Pressure; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D015222:Sodium Channels