Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A distributed-parameter model of the myelinated human motor nerve fibre: temporal and spatial distributions of electrotonic potentials and ionic currents

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Biological Cybernetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The double cable model is used to investigate the electrotonic responses of the myelinated human motor nerve fibre to 100ms depolarizing and hyper-polarizing current pulses. The model calculations provide estimates of the spatial and temporal distributions of the transaxonal and transmyelin components of the electrotonic potentials, both in different segments of the fibre and at different moments during and after the pulses. The temporal distributions of the potentials exhibit fast (rise time <1 ms) and slow (from 10 to 100 ms) components, while the discontinuous spatial distributions of the potentials reflect the heterogeneous structure of the fibre. The distributions of the transaxonal and transmyelin currents along the fibre, and their contributions from different ionic channels, are also explored. The different axolemmal channel types beneath the myelin sheath make an important contribution to the responses to the long-lasting current pulses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker M, Bostock H, Grafe P, Martius P (1987) Function and distribution of three types of rectifying channels in rat spinal root myelinated axons. J Physiol (Lond) 383:45–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett EF, Barrett JN (1982) Intracellular recordings from vertebrate myelinated axons: mechanism of the depolarizing afterpotential. J Physiol (Lond) 323:117–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Berthold C (1978) Morphology of normal peripheral axons. In: Waxman S (ed) Physiology and pathology of axons. Raven Press, New York, pp 3–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Blight A (1985) Computer simulation of action potentials and after-potentials in mammalian myelinated axons: the case for a lower resistance myelin sheath. Neuroscience 15:13–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Bostock H (1995) Mechanisms of accommodation and adaptation in myelinated axons. In: Waxman SG, Kocsis JD, Stys PK (eds) The axon. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 311–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Bostock H, Baker M (1988) Evidence for two types of potassium channel in human motor axons in vivo. Brain Res 462:354–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Bostock H, Baker M, Reid G (1991) Changes in excitability of human motor axons underlying post-ischaemic fasciculations: evidence for two stable states. J Physiol (Lond) 441:537–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiu SY, Ritchie JM (1984) On the physiological role of internodal potassium channels and the security of conduction in myelinated nerve fibres. Proc R Soc Lond B 220:415–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankenhaeuser B, Huxley A (1964) The action potential in the myelinated nerve fibre of Xenopus laevis as computed on the basis of voltage clamp data. J Physiol (Lond) 171:302–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman L, Albus J (1968) Computation of impulse conduction in myelinated fibres: theoretical basis of the velocity-diameter relation. Biophys J 8:596–607

    Google Scholar 

  • Halter J, Clark J (1991) A distributed-parameter model of the myelinated nerve fiber. J Theor Biol 148:345–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorente De No R (1947) A study of nerve physiology. Studies from the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, vols 131 and 132

  • Roper J, Schwarz JR (1989) Heterogeneous distribution of fast and slow potassium channels in myelinated rat nerve fibres. J Physiol (Lond) 416:93–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Safronov BV, Kampe K, Vogel W (1993) Single voltage-dependent potassium channels in rat peripheral nerve membrane. J Physiol (Lond) 460:675–691

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz A, Reid G, Vogel W, Bostock H (1993) Ion channels in human axons. Pflugers Arch 287:311–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephanova D, Bostock H (1995) A distributed-parameter model of the myelinated human motor nerve fibre: temporal and spatial distributions of action potentials and ionic currents. Biol Cybern 73:275–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel W, Schwarz JR (1995) Voltage-clamp studies in axons: macroscopic and single-channel currents. In: Waxman SG, Kocsis JD, Stys PK (eds) The axon. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 257–280

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biophysics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bontchev Str., Bl 21, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria

    D. I. Stephanova

  2. Sobell Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, WC1N 3BG, London, UK

    H. Bostock

Authors
  1. D. I. Stephanova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Bostock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stephanova, D.I., Bostock, H. A distributed-parameter model of the myelinated human motor nerve fibre: temporal and spatial distributions of electrotonic potentials and ionic currents. Biol. Cybern. 74, 543–547 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209425

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209425

Keywords

Search

Navigation