The Effect of Surface-Active Agents on the Resting Potential of Muscle

A B S T R A C T The effects of detergents on squid giant axon action and resting potentials as well as membrane conductances in the voltage clamp have been studied. Anionic detergents (sodium lauryl sulfate, 0.1 to 1.0 rn~; dimethyl benzene sulfonate, 1 to 20 mu, pH 7.6) cause a temporary increase and a later decrease of action potential height and the value of the resting potential. Cationic detergent (cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, 6 X 10-5~ or more, pH 7.6) generally brings about immediate and irreversible decreases in the action and resting potentials. Non-ionic detergent (tween 80, 0.1 M, pH 7.6) causes a slight reversible reduction of action potential height without affecting the value of the resting potential. Both anionic and cationic detergents generally decrease the sodium and potassium conductances irreversibly. The effect of non-ionic detergent is to decrease the sodium conductance reversibly, leaving the potassium conductance almost unchanged.

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The Effects of Surfactants on the Potential, Short‐circuit Current, and Ion Fluxes Across the Isolated Frog Skin

Webb

1965

Acta Physiologica Scandinavica

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Webb, G. D. The effects of surfactants on the potential, short-circuit current, and ionj7uxcs across fhe isolakd frog skin. Acta physiol. scand. 1965. 63. 377-384. -It has been shown previously that ionic surface active agents (surfactants) depolarize nerve and muscle membranes and the isolated frog skin. The isolated frog skin was used in the present studies. Measurements of skin potential, short circuit current, and of Na, K, and C1 fluxes were made to determine the relative roles of inhibition of active Na transport and increases in passive ion permeability in producing the depolarization. The electrical data were in agreement with the flux data in demonstrating that lower concentrations of ionic surfactants (0.5 mM) generally inhibit the active Na transport process but have little effect on passive ion permeability. At higher concentrations (2 mM or more) surfactants produce an increase in permeability in addition to inhibiting the "Na pump". The outside surface of the frog skin was more sensitive to the surfactants than was the inside.

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The Effect of Surface-Active Agents on the Resting Potential of Muscle

Cited by 5 publications

References 13 publications

Actions of benzalkonium chloride as a potent depressant at the neuromuscular junction

Actions of benzalkonium chloride as a potent depressant at the neuromuscular junction

Effect of Detergent on Electrical Properties of Squid Axon Membrane

The Effects of Surfactants on the Potential, Short‐circuit Current, and Ion Fluxes Across the Isolated Frog Skin

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