Summary
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1.
In an electroreceptor, ampullae of Lorenzini of the marine catfishPlotosus, the jelly in the ampullary ducts was studied in order to determine the ionic composition of the microenvironment over the sensory epithelium of the electroreceptor. In comparison, the blood plasma of the fish and the sea water were similarly analysed.
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2.
The ionic composition of the plasma, Na 194, K 4.0, Ca 2.9, Mg 1.5 and Cl 169 (in mM/l), was similar to those in other marine teleosts despite the species difference.
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3.
The ampullary jelly was approximately isotonic to sea water, but contained much more K (62.6±22.0 mM/l, 580% of sea water), with Na, Ca and Mg all lower than those in sea water. The K concentration was higher in the proximal half of the ampullary duct than in the distal half, suggesting a secretion of the jelly from the ampulla.
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4.
The high electrical sensitivity of thePlotosus ampulla is maintained by a steady bias current which flows inwards through the apical and outwards through the basal membranes of the receptor cells in the sensory epithelium. It is suggested that this bias current is carried by K.
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We are indebted to Miss Takako Tanizawa for the initial part of the plasma analysis carried out in Kanazawa University, and also to Dr. Shizuko Iwasaki in Tokyo Medical College for the generous help in providing facilities for the preliminary Ca measurements. This work was supported in part by the grant from Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan 010607.
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Okitsu, S., Umekita, S.i. & Obara, S. Ionic compositions of the media across the sensory epithelium in the ampullae of Lorenzini of the marine catfish,Plotosus . J. Comp. Physiol. 126, 115–121 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666363
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666363