| Abstract: | ![]()
Sensitivity of the postsynpatic membrane to acetylcholine, the resting membrane potential, input resistance, and membrane time constant of fast muscle fibers were measured in experiments on frogs. Complete immobilization of the animals with D-tubocurarine or local immobilization of a muscle with α-bungarotoxin was found not to affect these parameters of the muscle membrane, whereas denervation of the muscle widens the zone of postsynaptic sensitivity to acetylcholine, lowers the resting membrane potential, and increases the input resistance and time constant of the muscle membrane. These results are evidence that neurotrophic control of the frog fast muscle fiber membrane is achieved mainly by substances reaching the muscle via axoplasmic transport and not by the character of the neuronal discharge and motor activity or by synaptic acetylcholine. |
