The voltage dependence of the cardiac membrane conductance

Abstract

Solutions have been computed for the point polarization of a sheet-like membrane obeying the equations used previously (Noble, 1960, 1962) to reproduce the Purkinje fiber action potential. It was found that, in spite of the gross non-linearity of the membrane current-voltage relations, the relations between total polarizing current and displacement of membrane potential at various distances from the polarizing electrode are remarkably linear. It is therefore concluded that Johnson and Tille's (1960, 1961) results showing linear polarizing current-voltage relations obtained by passing current through the membrane from a microelectrode during the plateau of the rabbit ventricular action potential do not conflict with the Hodgkin-Huxley theory of electrical activity.