Effects of Osmotic Stress on the Electrical Activities of the Giant Axon of a Marine Osmoconformer, Sabella Penicillus

Abstract

Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr Treherne. The giant axons of the polychaete, Sabella penicillus, can withstand, in vitro, abrupt changes in osmotic and ionic concentration of the bathing medium in the range measured in the blood of this osmoconformer (543–1236 m-osmol) at different external salinities. Isosmotic dilution of the external ions (i.e. when osmotic concentration was maintained by sucrose) induced a modest hyperpolarization of the axonal membrane and a rapid decline in the overshoot of the action potential. In contrast, abrupt hyposmotic dilution resulted in a relatively slow and complex decline in overshoot in the absence of axonal hyperpolarization. A slow potassium depolarization and rate of decrease in overshoot in sodium-free conditions suggests that there is a reduced intercellular access to the axon surfaces following exposure to hyposmotic media. It is suggested that this restricted access could provide short-term protection from fluctuations in blood osmotic concentration.