MECHANICAL, THERMAL, AND OPTICAL SIGNS OF EXCITATION IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

我们在本财年集中展示了 突触相关神经组织的快速结构变化 活动。电射线的电子琴，鱼雷已知 适用于突触传递机制的研究 因为它的同质性和大量的胆碱能神经支配。 使用在此制造的敏感机械和光学设备 实验室我们发现电刺激其中一条神经 进入器官后会迅速肿胀，然后缓慢肿胀。 器官萎缩。此外，通过使用特殊的热传感器， 我们设计了一个伪造的，我们能够证明有 器官迅速产生热量，随后器官缓慢吸收热量。 请注意，之前调查人员使用的听觉传感器有一个 大约100毫秒的响应时间，我们有必要构建一个 新型热传感器，具有高时间分辨率和高性能 完全屏蔽了电器官的直接刺激。vbl.使用 一个小铝杆连接到管风琴切片的一小条上 已经确定器官中的细胞对 化学递质(从神经末梢释放的乙酰胆碱) 先是迅速膨胀，然后缓慢收缩。此外，我们还发现 脑片中突触后电位的产生伴随着 通过快速产生热量，然后缓慢吸收热量。我们 我认为这些发现有力地支持了化学的理论 由Neumann、Nachmansohn和Katchalsky(1973- 1976)；这一理论提出，受体蛋白分子具有 钙离子结合量大与化学递质的成因 结合的钙离子和化学递质的释放导致释放 从受体分子中结合的钙离子。更详细的 对这一理论的有效性的审查正在进行中。

we have concentrated during this fiscal year on the demonstration of rapid structural changes in nervous tissues associated with synaptic activities. the electric organ of the electric ray, Torpedo is known to be well suited for t he study of the mechanism of synaptic transmission because of its homogeneity and its massive cholinergic innervation. Using sensitive mechanical and optical devices fabricated in this laboratory we have found that electric stimulation of one of the nerves entering into the organ produces rapid swelling followed by slow shrinkage of the organ. Furthermore by use of special heat-sensors which we have designed an fabricated we were able demonstrate that there is rapid heat production followed by slow heat absorption by the organ. Note that the hear-sensor employed by previous investigators had a response-time of about 100 msec it was necessary for us to construct a new type of heat-sensor which have a high time-resolution and are completely shielded from the electric organ to direct stimulation. Using a small aluminum lever connected to a small strip of the organ slice we have established that the electrocytes in the organ respond to the chemical transmitter(acetylcholine released from the nerve endings) with rapid swelling followed by slow shrinkage. In addition we have found that generation of a postsynaptic potential in the slice is accompanied by a rapid heat production followed by a slow heat absorption. We believe that these findings give strong support to the theory of chemical excitation put forward by Neumann,, Nachmansohn and Katchalsky (1973- 1976); this theory proposes that the receptor protein molecules have a large binding capacity for Ca-ions and the chemical transmitter causes release of the bound Ca-ions and the chemical transmitter causes release of the bound Ca-ions from the receptors molecules. A more detailed examination of the validity of this theory is in progress.