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Axolemma—Ectoplasm Complex and Mechanical Responses of the Axon Membrane

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Book cover Structure and Function in Excitable Cells

Abstract

The layer of axoplasm located directly underneath the axolemma is rich in fibrillar elements, such as microtubules, neurofilaments, and actin filaments (Metuzals and Izzard, 1969; Metuzals and Tasaki, 1978; Hodge and Adelman, 1980). An extensive destruction of this layer by intracellular perfusion with a solution containing chaotropic anions or proteolytic enzymes is known to lead to a loss of excitability. Therefore, we believe that this layer, which is called the ectoplasm, is an essential part of the excitable membrane.

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© 1983 Plenum Press, New York

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Tasaki, I., Iwasa, K. (1983). Axolemma—Ectoplasm Complex and Mechanical Responses of the Axon Membrane. In: Chang, D.C., Tasaki, I., Adelman, W.J., Leuchtag, H.R. (eds) Structure and Function in Excitable Cells. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9337-9_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9337-9_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-9339-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-9337-9

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