Spread of discrete structural changes in synthetic polyanionic gel: A model of propagation of a nerve impulse
Spread of discrete structural changes in synthetic polyanionic gel: A model of propagation of a nerve impulse
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DOI：
10.1006/jtbi.2002.3095
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发表时间：
2002-10-21
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Tasaki, I
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Tasaki, I
Thin fibers of cross-linked polyacrylate gel were prepared by inducing polymerization reaction inside long glass or Tygon tubings. By immersing these gel fibers in salt solutions containing both Ca(2+) and Na(+) at varying ratios, a discontinuous transition from the swollen state to the shrunken was demonstrated. A very sharp boundary was observed between the swollen and shrunken portions of the gel fiber. It was found possible to displace this sharp boundary continuously by application of a weak electric current. Based on the similarity in swelling behavior between nerve fibers and synthetic gel fibers, a non-myelinated nerve fiber carrying an impulse was treated as a cylindrical gel layer consisting of two distinct portions, a swollen (active) portion connected directly to the remaining shrunken (resting) portion. By applying the cable theory to this model of the nerve fiber, mathematical expressions describing the conduction velocity, the maximum rate of potential rise, etc. in terms of the electric parameters of the fiber were derived. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
