Myelinated central vertebrate axon lacks voltage-sensitive potassium conductance

Abstract

Intracellular recordings were obtained from the goldfish Mauthner cell soma and axon before and after intracellular iontophoresis of drugs that block voltage-sensitive potassium conductance. Analysis of the action potentials generated by the axon hillock-initial segment and by the axon suggest that axonal impulses lack this potassium conductance. Thus, impulse repolarization in the Mauthner axon, and perhaps in other vertebrate central axons, may not involve an active potassium current.