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Colchicine Reversibly Inhibits Electrical Activity in Arthropod Mechanoreceptors

Dendrites of cockroach tibial spine mechanoreceptors contain hundreds of free microtubules, which may have some relation to the generation of electrical activity. Deflection of a spine produces a train of action potentials. Continuous perfusion over a period of 4 hours results in no response decrement. Perfusion with 10mM colchicine reversibly inhibits the response within 5-7 minutes. Irreversible inhibition is produced by perfusion with 1mM vinblastine sulfate in perfusion solution containing 1% dimethyl sulfoxide. Deuterium oxide does not inhibit at concentrations less than 50%, nor does it counteract inhibition by 10mM colchicine. Colchicine may be affecting (1) intracellular microtubules, (2) membraneous tubulin, (3) other membrane components, or (4) axoplasmic transport of essential materials to the sensory dendrites.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc798184
Date08 1900
CreatorsReagan, Paul D.
PublisherNorth Texas State University
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatv, 79 leaves : ill., Text
RightsPublic, Reagan, Paul D., Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights

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