Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol 42, Issue 6 1680-1691, Copyright © 1979 by APS
Effects of temperature and deuterium oxide on crustacean stretch receptor
T. Ono and S. Nakajima
1. The receptor potential was recorded intracellularly from the isolated
stretch receptor neuron of crayfish. Total substitution of D2O for H2O in
the bathing solution reversibly decreased the amplitude of the receptor
potential to a level of 34% of the control. The input resistance of the
neuron was slightly increased by the D2O treatment, while the resting
potential and the input capacity were virtually unchanged. The viscoelastic
property of the receptor muscle was not altered by the D2O substitution.
Thus, D2O seems to inhibit directly the activation process of the receptor
potential. 2. Temperature change over the range of 25-5 degrees C did not
affect the amplitude of receptor potential. However, the input resistance
of the neuron was increased about twofold by the lowering of temperature
from 25 to 5 degrees C. 3. We conclude that when the temperature is
lowered, the receptor current is diminished, but this decline is just about
compensated for by the increase in membrane resistance, resulting in a near
constancy of the receptor potential. This is the cellular basis for the
relative constancy of the transduction process of the stretch receptor in
the face of large temperature changes. On the other hand, in the case of
D2O substitution the compensation mechanism of the resistance increase does
not work, and the sensory transduction is inhibited substantially.
