Inhibition of potassium conductance with external tetraethylammonium ion in Myxicola giant axons

Abstract

In voltage clamp experiments, externally applied tetraethylammonium ion (TEA) was found to have minimal effects on transient sodium currents and to suppress steady-state potassium currents of Myxicola giant axons by causing a specific decrease in the maximum potassium conductance gK. The dose-response curve suggests a one-to-one stoichiometry for TEA-receptor binding with an apparent dissociation constant on 24 mM. The suppression of IK is essentially reversible. Experiments performed on high external potassium ion concentrations indicate that both outward and inward IK were blocked by external TEA. The results thus suggest the presence of TEA receptors on the outer surface of Myxicola axonal membrane similar to those reported in the frog node.