1

Action Potential - Review

Vm = VNa GNa + VK GK + VCl GCl

GNa + GK + GCl

GNa GK GCl Vm (mV)

Resting 0.01 1 1 - 79

Depolarizing 4 1 1 + 26

Repolarizing 0.01 4 1 - 86

Return to Resting 0.01 1 1 - 79

2

Current Paths

Response to an injected step current charge

Capacitor (IRm = 0)

Transmembrane Ionic Flux (IRm)

Along Axoplasm (V)

3

Current Flow - Initial All current flows thru the capacitor

(low resistant path to injected step current)

Redistributed charges change Vm

Current begins to flow thru Rm and spreads laterally,

affecting adjacent membrane capacitance.

At injection point, dv/dt 0, Ic = 0

Transmembrane current carried only by Rm, remainder of current spread laterally along axon. (Rm relatively high resistance, axon relatively low)

4

Current Flow - Sequential

The process is repeated at adjacent membrane due to influence of the lateral current along axon.

As the capacitor initially accumulates charge, Vm changes, current flows thru Rm, dv/dt 0, Ic

= 0.

Transmembrane current carried only by Rm, remainder of current spreads laterally along axon.

etc, etc, etc, etc.

5

Passive Membrane - Analytical

Note: = RmC and VIN = RmIIN

Response to step current for C DV/dt + V/R = IIN (0 < t < t) Vm(t) = Vr + VIN(1 - e-t/)

Response to removal of step current for C DV/dt + V/R = 0 (t > ) Vm(t’) = Vr + VIN(1 - e-t / ) e-t’/

6

Cable Equation Passive Membrane

Propagating Voltage V’ = Vm - VResting

Current Im = -Iin/X = Iout/X

General Cable Equation 2V’/X2 = (Rout + Rin) Im

Passive Membrane Im = V’/Rm + C(V’/t)

V’ = Ve-X/ where = [ Rm / (Rout + Rin) ]1/2

7

Cable Equation (Passive) - continued

General Cable Equation 2V’/X2 = (Rout + Rin) Im

Passive Membrane Im = V’/Rm + C(V’/t)

Action Potential Equation (by substituting from above)

(Rout + Rin)-1 2V’/X2 = V’/Rm + C(V’/t)

8

Cable Equation Active Membrane

2V’/X2 = (Rout + Rin) Im

since Rout >> Rin 2V’/X2 = Rout Im

Assumption Action potential travels at constant velocity so X = t

2V’/X2 = 2V’/t)2 = (1/2) 2V’/t2

9

Cable Equation (Active) - continued

From (Rout + Rin)-1 2V’/X2 = V’/Rm + C(V’/t) 2V’/X2 = Rout Im 2V’/X2 = 2V’/t)2 = (1/2) 2V’/t2

Substituting and rearranging (Rin22V’/t2) - C(V’/t) - V’/Rm = 0

Im - IC - IRm = 0

Note: Differential Potential V’ = Vm - VResting

is the propagating potential.

10

Cable Equation (Active) - continued

(Rin22V’)/t2 - C(V’/t) - V’/Rm = 0

2V’/t2 - (Rin2C(V’/t) - (Rin2)/Rm V’ = 0

Solving the differential equation and using typical values for C=10-13 F, Rin=109 and Rm = 1010

and = 100 m/s (1 m/s < < 100 m/s) and boundary conditions (t=,V’=0) and (t=0,

V’=V

V’ = Ve-.916t

11

Propagating Action Potential

Propagating Acton Potential

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0

Vm

(m

V)

Time (ms)

12

Action Potential

If a stimulus exceeds threshold voltage, then a characteristic non-linear response occurs.

An voltage waveform the so called electrogenic “Action Potential” is generated due to a change in

the membrane permeability to sodium and potassium ions.

The action potential is propagated undiminished and with constant velocity along the nerve axon.

13

Hodgkin-Huxley Equation

Unit Membrane Model Longitudinal resistance of axoplasm per unit

length Resistance = Resistivity / Cross Sectional Area Membrane Current Density (Flux) Currents (Capacitive, Sodium, Potassium, Others) Uses Conductances rather than Resistances Variable Permeabilities as a function of Vm’ (t)

Sodium GNa = GNa M3H

Potassium GK = GK N4

14

H & H - continued

Conductances Gna and GK are variable and are defined by their respective permeabilities.

Sodium Gna = GNa M3H

Potassium GK = GK N4

M is the hypothetical process that activates GNa

H is the hypothetical process that deactivates GNa

N is is the hypothetical process that activates GK

M, H, N are membrane potential and time dependent G = G Max

15

H & H - Concluding Remark

The Hodgkin-Huxley Model was first developed in the 1940’s and published in the 1950’s.

It does not explain how or why the membrane permeabilities change, but it does model the shape and speed of the action potential quite faithfully.

Empirical values were developed for the GNa, GK, GL

as well as the hypothetical permeability relationships for M, H, N using the giant squid axon.