Voltage-current relationship of a carbachol-induced potassium-ion pathway in Aplysia neurones

Abstract

1. The electrical characteristics of a potassium ion selective pathway produced by the action of carbachol on Aplysia neurones (Kehoe, 1972b) has been studied. 2. The relationship between current and voltage has been found to be non-linear, the conductance increasing with depolarization and decreasing with hyperpolarization. The degree of rectification was reduced when the external potassium was raised to 50 mM from its normal value of 10 mM. 3. The direction of the rectification and the effect of increased potassium are as predicted by the 'constant field' theory, but the degree of rectification is somewhat larger.