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Plant and Cell Physiology, 1990, Vol. 31, No. 4 513-518
© 1990

Article

Electrotonic Transmission of an Action Potential between Two Separated Internodal Cells of Chara through a Bridge

Takayoshi Tabata

Department of Physiology, Tohoku University School of Dentistry Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980 Japan

Two separated internodal cells of Chara braunii were brought into contact with each other longitudinally at their ends and connected by another pathway composed of a metal bridge beyond the region of intercellular contact. A conducted action potential that arrived at one foot of the bridge electrotonically depolarized the other foot of the bridge in the connected cell. The electric coupling ratio (0.07±0.03), the ratio of the change in the membrane potential of one cell to that of the other cell, was too small to allow transmission of an action potential. Two cells were placed in parallel and connected with two liquid bridges or pools, a' and b'. When the action potential of one cell was conducted through one connecting pool (pool a)', the other cell was depolarized electrotonically by the action current via the other connecting pool (pool b'). The coupling ratio was increased to 0.26±0.07 by the solution bridge, but transmission of the action potential was rarely observed. Application of 1 mM KC1 to pools a' and/or b' slightly improved the frequency of transmission of the action potential. When pool b' contained 5% urethane, the coupling ratio increased to 0.31±0.08 and transmission of the action potential was frequent.

(Received August 24, 1989; Accepted March 14, 1990)
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