The Journal of General Physiology
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The Journal of General Physiology, Vol 24, 771-788, Copyright © 1941 by The Rockefeller University Press

ARTICLE

LONGITUDINAL IMPEDANCE OF THE SQUID GIANT AXON

Kenneth S. Cole 1 and Richard F. Baker 1

1 From the Department of Physiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Longitudinal alternating current impedance measurements have been made on the squid giant axon over the frequency range from 30 cycles per second to 200 kc. per second. Large sea water electrodes were used and the inter-electrode length was immersed in oil. The impedance at high frequency was approximately as predicted theoretically on the basis of the poorly conducting dielectric characteristics of the membrane previously determined. For the large majority of the axons, the impedance reached a maximum at a low frequency and the reactance then vanished at a frequency between 150 and 300 cycles per second. Below this frequency, the reactance was inductive, reaching a maximum and then approaching zero as the frequency was decreased.

The inductive reactance is a property of the axon and requires that it contain an inductive structure. The variation of the impedance with interpolar distance indicates that the inductance is in the membrane. The impedance characteristics of the membrane as calculated from the measured longitudinal impedance of the axon may be expressed by an equivalent membrane circuit containing inductance, capacity, and resistance. For a square centimeter of membrane the capacity of 1 µf with dielectric loss is shunted by the series combination of a resistance of 400 ohms and an inductance of one-fifth henry.

 Submitted on February 18, 1941


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