Extracellular Action Potentials Recorded from the Interior of the Giant Esophageal Cell of Ascaris

Abstract

Exploration of the cytoplasm of the giant esophageal cell of Ascaris with a recording microelectrode shows the existence of shallow spaces where the microelectrode tip becomes extracellular in spite of being in the interior of the cell. When the microelectrode penetrates into these spaces from the cytoplasm, the resting potential shifts to a different level or entirely disappears. At the same time the large intracellular spikes are replaced by small transients similar to extracellularly recorded action potentials. It is concluded that such spaces are in communication with the external solution, and separated from the cytoplasm by an electrically active membrane; i.e., able to generate action potentials. Measurement of the potential differences between the interior of the spaces and the external solution shows that although some are not polarized, many spaces have a resting potential of the same polarity as that of the cytoplasm. It is suggested that although they are of larger size these spaces may be equivalent to the tubular systems which in other muscle cells are known to be involved in the spread of excitation into the cytoplasm.