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V(EPSP)
150
a,b
c
100
Control
50
Vm
0
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
20
40
60
-50
-100
-150
The control plot shows Vrev = -10 and is linear, with depolarizing EPSP
amplitudes negative to Vrev, hyperpolarizing positive to Vrev.
Doubling the number of ACh receptors activated or reducing by half the
number of resting channels each will double the EPSP amplitude at each
potential without changing Vrev.
Plot c, where we made the ACh receptor permeable only to Na ions,
shows Vrev = VNa, which I assumed to be +30mV in this cell. The slope
depends on your assumptions. If you assume the same total conductance,
the slope should stay the same, as I have drawn it above. Another
reasonable assumption would be that you removed the K conductance
leaving the Na conductance intact, in which case the slope would be reduced
by the fraction of total conductance originally contributed by Na. So, for
example, if the conductance ratio originally were 1.8:1 Na:K, then the slope
of line c should be 1.8/2.8 of the original slope (but still +30mV Vrev.
Now do the exact same set of plots, but this time plot the current
underlying the EPSP, as measured in voltage clamp. Plot inward current
down (negative) on the y-axis. Some of the conditions (a)-(c) change the
voltage plots in Question 1, but do not change the current plots in Question
2. Do you understand why?
I (EPSP)
150
100
50
0
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
20
40
60
Vm
-50
Control, b
c
a
-100
-150
-200