Ion Efflux during Excitation of Characeae: Comparison of Voltage-Clamp and Conductometry Method for Efflux Measurement

Excitation of characean cells was studied in experiments usinga voltage-clamp. The efflux of monovalent anion was estimatedfrom the inward current (J₁) and was compared with that measuredby the conductometry method (J₈). It was found that, on theaverage, J₁ was larger than J₈ in Nitella. The Ca₂₊ influx isdiscussed with a view to explaining the discrepancy betweenJ₁ and J₈. (Received April 27, 1987; Accepted August 26, 1987)