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Properties of Ionic Channels in Excitable Membranes

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Membrane Transport Processes in Organized Systems

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Abstract

Excitable cells respond to appropriate stimuli with changes in their transmembrane potential. We will briefly review the origin of the membrane potential and the ways that it can be modified. Two main classes of excitability will be discussed: chemical excitability, in which the stimulus is a chemical transmitter released by another cell; and electrical excitability, in which the stimulus is a change in the membrane potential itself.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Ahmanson Laboratory of Neurobiology, and the Jerry Lewis Neuromuscular Research Center, University of California Medical School, Los Angeles, California, 90024, USA

    Francisco Bezanilla & Michael M. White

Authors
  1. Francisco Bezanilla
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  2. Michael M. White
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA

    Thomas E. Andreoli M.D.  & Stanley G. Schultz M.D.  & 

  2. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Joseph F. Hoffman Ph.D.

  3. University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

    Darrell D. Fanestil M.D.

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© 1987 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Bezanilla, F., White, M.M. (1987). Properties of Ionic Channels in Excitable Membranes. In: Andreoli, T.E., Hoffman, J.F., Fanestil, D.D., Schultz, S.G. (eds) Membrane Transport Processes in Organized Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5404-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5404-8_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-42698-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5404-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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