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A fit to nerve membrane rectification curves with a double-dipole-layer membrane model

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Abstract

Following Wei's suggestion that nerve stimulation and conduction properties are due to dipole layers at the two membrane surfaces (Wei, 1969), we have done steady-state electro-diffusion calculations in the constant field approximation for a simple double-dipole-layer model. We are thereby able to quantitatively fit the recent potassium iso-osmotic rectification curves of Gilbert and Ehrenstein for the squid giant axon membrane. For the squid axon membrane in a natural ion environment, only the outside dipole layer is present in the fit to the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

    Richard A. Arndt, James D. Bond & L. David Roper

Authors
  1. Richard A. Arndt
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  2. James D. Bond
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  3. L. David Roper
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Arndt, R.A., Bond, J.D. & David Roper, L. A fit to nerve membrane rectification curves with a double-dipole-layer membrane model. Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics 34, 151–172 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02476514

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02476514

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