Chloride distribution in Aplysia neurones

Abstract

1. The intracellular Cl(-) concentration (Cl(i)) and the membrane potential (E(m)) were measured in the medial pleural neurones of Aplysia under various experimental conditions designed to determine the Cl(-) conductance of the neurones and investigate the possibility of an active Cl(-) transport.2. The magnitude of the Cl(-) conductance of the cell depends on the experimental conditions.3. In normal sea water, large changes of E(m) produced by passing current across the cell membrane caused no change of Cl(i), suggesting that the Cl(-) conductance was low. Similarly, moderate changes of E(Cl) produced by decreasing Cl(o) or increasing Cl(i) had little or no effect on E(m).4. A high Cl(-) conductance was observed in high K(o) or very low Cl(o). It was greatly reduced if the external Ca(2+) was replaced by Co(2+), or in the presence of tubocurarine, or if the experiment was performed on an isolated cell soma. The high Cl(-) conductance is therefore attributed to the release of ACh and perhaps other transmitters from synaptic terminals.5. High concentrations of tetraethylammonium ions or procaine induced a depolarization of the cell, but a decrease of Cl(i). The rate of fall of Cl(i) was increased by lowering external K(+) or raising external Ca(2+), and was decreased by replacing external Ca(2+) by Co(2+).6. NH(4) (+) ions applied externally had effects similar to those of K(+) ions. In situations in which intracellular NH(4) (+) might be increased a fall in Cl(i) was observed.7. The changes of Cl(i) caused by TEA, procaine, or internal NH(4) (+) occur against the driving force for passive Cl(-) movements. They are still observed in isolated cell bodies, and cannot be attributed to the activation of synaptic channels.8. Some interpretations of these anomalous Cl(-) movements are discussed which could also account for the difference between E(Cl) and E(m) observed under normal conditions.