Membrane potentials and ion permeabilities in flexor cells of the laminar pulvini ofPhaseolus coccineusL.

✍ Scribed by D. Gradmann; W.-E. Mayer

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1977
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 519 KB
• Volume: 137
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0032-0935
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00394429

✦ Synopsis

The internal potential of flexor cells in slices of the laminar pulvini of Phaseolus coccineus has been recorded by standard microelectrode techniques in 100 eq m(-3) external salt solutions of various ionic compositions. The measured values are between-15 and-60 mV depending on the external medium. Treating the results with the Goldman equation yields the following relative permeabilities: K(+), 1.00; Na(+), 0.24; Cl(-), 0.19; NO 3 (-) , 1.6. The membrane potential was only slightly sensitive to external pH and Ca(2+). Metabolic inhibitors (azide, cyanide and salicylhydroxamic acid, carbonyl cyanid m-chlorphenyl hydrazone) caused only slight depolarizations (ca. 4 mV), which differed from the ion-induced changes by their slow time courses. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the relatively impermeable Cl(-) is actively transported and osmotically efficient, whereas the well-permeable K(+) passively follows Cl(-) to maintain electroneutrality and is osmotically of only minor significance.