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Mechanosensory Transduction in Ciliates (Protozoa)

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Comparative Aspects of Mechanoreceptor Systems

Part of the book series: Advances in Comparative and Environmental Physiology ((COMPARATIVE,volume 10))

Abstract

Most living cells are mechanosensitive in that mechanical strain exerted on their plasma membrane results in a transient change in electrical conductance of the membrane. In cells unspecialized for mechanoreception, a mechanically induced “injury” would result in a membrane potential change due to traumatic leak currents. In specialized mechanoreceptor tissue, however, the mechanical energy input results in the opening and/or closing of specific sensory ion channels in the membrane; this may provide a very high sensitivity to a mechanical stimulus. The gating of these mechanosensitive channels results in a defined change in ion conductance, and consequently, in a shift of the membrane potential. The steps of mechanoelectrical coupling are summarized by the following scheme: mechanical energy input — deformation of the sensitive structure — gating of mechanosensory ion channels — change in membrane ion conductance — receptor current flow — receptor potential — voltage-sensitive modification and integration — motor output.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Allgemeine Zoologie, FB Biologie, Universität Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 6750, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    J. W. Deitmer

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  1. J. W. Deitmer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology School of Medicine, Nagoya University, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan

    Fumio Ito

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Deitmer, J.W. (1992). Mechanosensory Transduction in Ciliates (Protozoa). In: Ito, F. (eds) Comparative Aspects of Mechanoreceptor Systems. Advances in Comparative and Environmental Physiology, vol 10. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76690-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76690-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-76692-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76690-9

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