A bistable membrane potential at low extracellular potassium concentration |
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Authors: | van Mil Harald Siegenbeek van Heukelom Jan Bier Martin |
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Affiliation: | Theory of Complex Fluids Section, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. |
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Abstract: | In order to understand the electrochemical behavior of a living cell at a low extracellular potassium concentration, a model is constructed. The model involves only the ATP driven sodium-potassium pump, and the sodium and potassium channels. Predictions of the model fit the N-shape of the current-voltage characteristic at low extracellular potassium. The model can, furthermore, quantitatively account for the experimentally observed bistability of the membrane potential at low extracellular potassium concentration. A crucial role in the control of the transmembrane potential appears to be played by how the permeability of the inward rectifying potassium channels depends on the transmembrane potential and on the extracellular potassium concentration. |
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