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. 1981 Aug;317:509–518. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1981.sp013840

Electrotonic coupling in internally perfused crayfish segmented axons.

M F Johnston, F Ramón
PMCID: PMC1246804  PMID: 6796679

Abstract

We have developed a technique for cannulation and internal perfusion of crayfish segmented lateral axons. Experiments on perfused and non-perfused axons lead to the following conclusions: 1. Internally perfused segmented axons behave very similarly to non-perfused axons. 2. The axial electrical resistance of the junctional region is almost as low as a comparable segment of axon. 3. Neither intracellular Ca2+ nor H+ is effective in disrupting the intercellular communication pathway in perfused axons. On the basis of these findings we have formulated a hypothesis for cellular control of intercellular coupling based on the existence of a soluble intermediate for Ca2+ or H+-induced uncoupling. This hypothesis is consistent with data from both internally perfused and non-perfused axons.

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Selected References

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