Membrane noise in Paramecium

THE ciliated protozoan Paramecium provides an opportunity to study the electrophysiological properties of an excitable membrane in relation with simple locomotor behaviour. The Paramecium surface membrane controls the locomotor activity, in particular ciliary reversal (resulting in backward swimming...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1976-03, Vol.260 (5549), p.344-346
Main Authors: MOOLENAAR, W. H, DE GOEDE, J, VERVEEN, A. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Calcium - metabolism
Cilia - drug effects
Humanities and Social Sciences
letter
Locomotion
Membrane Potentials
multidisciplinary
Nickel - pharmacology
Paramecium - physiology
Potassium - metabolism
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
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Summary:THE ciliated protozoan Paramecium provides an opportunity to study the electrophysiological properties of an excitable membrane in relation with simple locomotor behaviour. The Paramecium surface membrane controls the locomotor activity, in particular ciliary reversal (resulting in backward swimming), by ionic conductance mechanisms like those in other excitable cells 1,2 . Depolarising stimuli (electrical, chemical or mechanical) cause a graded receptor potential due to a regenerative transient increase in calcium conductance and a delayed increase of potassium conductance. The resulting Ca 2+ influx causes an increase in the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration which initiates the reversal of the ciliary beating direction. Normal beating is resumed when the excess internal Ca 2+ has been removed by metabolism-dependent processes.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/260344a0