Skip to main content
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1968 Dec;199(2):383–396. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008659

Depolarizing and hyperpolarizing receptor potentials in the non-myelinated nerve terminal in Pacinian corpuscles

K Nishi, M Sato
PMCID: PMC1365386  PMID: 5723517

Abstract

1. Pacinian corpuscles or non-myelinated nerve terminals in Pacinian corpuscles, from which lamellae had been removed, were stimulated with linearly increasing compression of varying rate, which decayed linearly after a maximum compression.

2. An impulse was initiated with a compression having a rate of increase greater than a critical slope. The critical slope was 1·1-1·2 rheobase/msec in both intact corpuscles and decapsulated terminals.

3. The receptor potential of the terminal increased in magnitude and rate of rise with an increase in the rate of compression. Its rate of rise was linearly related to the rate of compression.

4. Hyperpolarization was observed on removal of compression, and an impulse was initiated upon recovery of the hyperpolarized membrane potential.

5. In some corpuscles or decapsulated terminals hyperpolarization was produced on compression and a depolarizing response was produced upon removal of compression. After rotation by 90° along their long axis, they produced depolarization on compression.

6. Difference in the directional sensitivity of corpuscles and decapsulated terminals was confirmed and was explained on the basis of the shape of the terminal.

7. On- and off-responses of variable latency recorded from a central portion of the axon to Pacinian corpuscles were explained by the depolarizing and hyperpolarizing responses in the terminal.

Full text

PDF
386

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. DIAMOND J., GRAY J. A., INMAN D. R. The relation between receptor potentials and the concentration of sodium ions. J Physiol. 1958 Jul 14;142(2):382–394. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1958.sp006024. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. GRAY J. A. B., MATTHEWS P. B. C. A comparison of the adaptation of the Pacinian corpuscle with the accommodation of its own axon. J Physiol. 1951 Aug;114(4):454–464. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1951.sp004636. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. GRAY J. A., SATO M. Properties of the receptor potential in Pacinian corpuscles. J Physiol. 1953 Dec 29;122(3):610–636. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1953.sp005025. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. HUBBARD S. J. A study of rapid mechanical events in a mechanoreceptor. J Physiol. 1958 Apr 30;141(2):198–218. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1958.sp005968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. HUNT C. C., TAKEUCHI A. Responses of the nerve terminal of the Pacinian corpuscle. J Physiol. 1962 Jan;160:1–21. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1962.sp006829. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Ilyinsky O. B. Processes of excitation and inhibition in single mechanoreceptors (Pacinian corpuscles). Nature. 1965 Oct 23;208(5008):351–353. doi: 10.1038/208351a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. LOEWENSTEIN W. R., MENDELSON M. COMPONENTS OF RECEPTOR ADAPTATION IN A PACINIAN CORPUSCLE. J Physiol. 1965 Apr;177:377–397. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1965.sp007598. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Nishi K., Sato M. Blocking of the impulse and depression of the receptor potential by tetrodotoxin in non-myelinated nerve terminals in pacinian corpuscles. J Physiol. 1966 May;184(2):376–386. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1966.sp007920. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. OZEKI M., SATO M. INITIATION OF IMPULSES AT THE NON-MYELINATED NERVE TERMINAL IN PACINIAN CORPUSCLES. J Physiol. 1964 Jan;170:167–185. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1964.sp007321. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Ozeki M., Sato M. Changes in the membrane potential and the membrane conductance associated with a sustained compression of the non-myelinated nerve terminal in Pacinian corpuscles. J Physiol. 1965 Sep;180(1):186–208. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. PEASE D. C., QUILLIAM T. A. Electron microscopy of the pacinian corpuscle. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 May 25;3(3):331–342. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.3.331. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. SATO M., OZEKI M. RESPONSE OF THE NON-MYELINATED NERVE TERMINAL IN PACINIAN CORPUSCLES TO MECHANICAL AND ANTIDROMIC STIMULATION AND THE EFFECT OF PROCAINE, CHOLINE AND COOLING. Jpn J Physiol. 1963 Dec 15;13:564–582. doi: 10.2170/jjphysiol.13.564. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES