The effect of temperature on a simulated systematically paranodally demyelinated nerve fiber

Abstract

The temperature dependence (from 10 degrees to 50 degrees C) of the intracellular action potentials' parameters as well as of the ionic currents' kinetics in normal and demyelinated nerve fiber is studied. The simulation of the conduction in the normal fiber is based on the Frankenhaeuser and Huxley (1964) and Goldman and Albus (1968) equations, while in the case of a demyelinated fiber according to the same equations modified by Stephanova (1988). The temperature coefficients (Q10) for the rate constants as well as for the sodium and potassium permeabilities are introduced. It is shown that increased temperature blocks conduction in the simulated demyelinated fiber at temperatures much lower than the blocking temperature for the normal fiber. When temperature is increased, the amplitude as well as the wavelength and the asymmetry of the potential decrease. The relationship between conduction velocity and temperature is non-linear. The velocity increases when the temperature approaches the blocking temperature, after which abruptly drops. At a given degree of demyelination with increasing temperatures, the ionic currents' flow and the membrane conduction respectively increase, but, at lower temperatures, when the degree of the demyelination is increased, the conduction is blocked.