SUMMARY1. Light and electron micrographs of sections of the gastro-oesophageal giant neurone (G cell) of the nudibranch mollusc, Anisodoris nobilis, show that its somatic and axonal membranes are deeply infolded. The surface and volume of its soma and axon have been calculated from measurements taken at the light and electron microscope on sections of the G cell.2. The surface of the soma is approximately 7-5 times as large as that of a sphere having the same volume. For a typical cell the soma has a volume of 1.5 x 10-5 cm3 and a surface of 2 x 10-2 cm2; the axon has a volume of 5 x 10-5 cm3 and a surface of 5 x 10-1 cm2.3. Because the axon is star shaped in cross-section, its geometry cannot be described by a single parameter (diameter or radius). Furthermore, the axon is beaded, and both the area (A) and the perimeter (P) of its crosssection change from point to point. 4. However, in spite of the apparent irregularity of their cross-sections, all axons examined could be characterized by a constant A/P ratio. This ratio also remains constant when the axons are stretched.5. According to the equations derived in the Appendix, the geometrical factor for the length constant in a folded fibre is H = V(AIP); therefore, in the G cell the length constant (and hence the conduction velocity) should be independent of the stretch applied to the axon. 6. The geometrical factor required to calculate the axonal input conductance is M = 4(A . P). M changes in adjacent segments of the same axon; in each segment its value depends on how much the axon is stretched.7. The input conductance of the whole axon can be calculated by

SUMMARY1. The passive electrical properties of the membrane of the gastrooesophageal giant neurone (G cell) of the marine mollusc, Anisodoris nobilis were studied with small current steps.2. The membrane transient response can be fitted with a theoretical curve assuming as a model for the cell a sphere (soma) connected to a cable (axon). The axo-somatic conductance ratio (p), determined by applying this model, is large (approximately 5) and the membrane time constant (r) is long (approximately 1 sec).3. When the actual surface area of the cell, corrected for surface infoldings, and the spread of current along its axon is taken into account, the electrical measurements imply a specific resistance of the membrane of approximately 1.0 Mf . cm2.4. Estimates of specific membrane capacity, either from measurements of the initial portion of the membrane transient or from the ratio of the time constant to the specific membrane resistance are close to the value of 1 #sF/cm2 expected for biological membranes.5. Thus, our measurements of specific capacitance, time constant, length constant and axo-somatic conductance ratio all indicate that the value found for the specific membrane resistance of the G cell, while unexpectedly large, is valid.6. The magnitude of this value suggests that the conductance (permeability) of its membrane to ions is much smaller than that previously assumed for nerve membranes; this small conductance may be related to the larger surface-to-volume ratio of the G cell.

The cardiac ganglion of Portunus sanguinolentus exhibits spontaneous rhythmic activity when isolated. The ganglion contains five large and four small intrinsic neurons and is innervated by three pairs of fibres originating in the thoracic ganglia. We have identified the processes of the large neurons in electron micrographs by injecting these cells with two electron-dense markers, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and Procion Rubine (PR). In addition we have studied the processes of the four smaller neurons by light microscopy serial reconstructions and by electron microscopy of selected regions. Both markers were found only in neuronal processes and not in glial cells nor in the extracellular space, except close to the soma of the injected cell. We found contacts between the small secondary (collateral) processes of the large cells but not between their somata or their primary processes (axons and dendrites). Two specialized structures present at the contacts between the collateral processes were small membrane close appositions, possibly the site of electrotonic junctions, and chemical synapses. Contacts between processes marked by HRP and those marked by PR were common, as were contacts between processes marked by either HRP or PR and those of the other intrinsic neurons. Adjacent processes stained by PR could contain PR deposits of different densities, but it is unclear whether this finding was due to intercellular diffusion of the dye or to its diffusing at different rates into branches of the same process. Identified processes of all the intrinsic neurons contained the same type of vesicles, which were different from those found in processes of the extrinsic fibres. Chemical synapses were present at contacts between processes of the extrinsic and intrinsic neurons, as well as at contacts between processes of the intrinsic neurons. The axons of three small cells made a series of contacts at which extensive arrays of membrane close appositions, but not chemical synapses, were found. These three axons also formed contacts, either directly or through their collateral branches, with processes of the large cells, at which both membrane close appositions and chemical synapses were present. The axon of the fourth small cell could not be followed in our series.

Although the crustacean coxal receptors and no-spiking, indirect pharmacological and electrophysiological evidence suggests that fast sodium channels may be present in their membrane. The properties of these channels are not known, but it has been suggested that they might be "incompletely differentiated", perhaps lacking "appropriate gating mechanisms", and/or "too sparsely distributed". The former hypothesis is not supported by the results of voltage-clamping experiments done on dendritic segments isolated from these mechanoreceptors. Instead, the results reported here provide direct evidence for a voltage-dependent fast inward current, sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX) and requiring external sodium (but not calcium). This current is shunted by a transient fast outward current, also voltage dependent, and it is suggested that this shunting may account, at least in part, for the non-spiking behaviour of the coxal receptors.