Problems concerning the measurements of electrical events in myelinated nerve fibers

Abstract

As only the availability of strictly accurate data enables the realistic theoretical modelling of the ionic channel behaviour, the most important and topical problems concerning the measurements of the electrical events at the level of the myelinated nerve fiber are analysed. Thus, the following aspects are examined: (a) morphological characteristics of the myelinated nerve fiber and problems arising from the membrane currents measurements: (b) problems induced by use of the insulating layers on the myelin surface: air gap or vaseline seal insulation; (c) effect of the nodal gap resistance on the ionic currents measurements in the node of Ranvier membrane.