Q6 TEA blocks the k+ channels so that K+ cannot leave the channel which prevents the cell to returning to its

resting potential. Voltage gated Na+ channels would still allow NA+ to flow into the cell but as a result of TEA, there would be no repolarisation. Therefore the neuron would not be functional.

Capacitator(cm) : corresponds roughly to the inner and outer surfaces of the plasma membrane, separating positive and negative charges. Batteries (emfs): corresponds to the electrochemical gradient that exist Resistors: correspond to the ion channels that carrier the K+, Na+ and Cl- ions.

Q10. If D = 0.00001 cm2/sec (for oxygen through water), how long would it take the oxygen to diffuse 0.1 cm below the surface of a still pond? (5 marks)
x=0.1

T= 500 sec

Q11. During the course of a neurosurgical procedure a drug is applied to the surface of the brain in order to inhibit the activity of a group of neurons that lie 1mm below the surface. Approximately how long will it take the drug to diffuse from the surface to those neurons? Assume the diffusion coefficient of the drug in brain tissue is 1 x 10-5 cm2/sec. (5 marks)

T= 500 sec

Q12. A human red blood cell has a membrane surface area of about 100m2 and a membrane thickness about 100 A . If the concentration of glycerol in the extracellular fluid is 10mM, but its concentration in the intracellular is 0mM, calculate the flux of glycerol in moles/sec across the red blood cell membrane. Assume that the diffusion coefficient of glycerol is 1 x 10-8 cm2/sec. (10 marks)

Q13. Consider a liquid column contained in a tube with a diameter of 10cm. A substance is dissolved in the liquid in such a way that its concentration profile decrease linearly along the axis of the tube. The concentration of the substance is 1 mol dm-3 and 0.5 mol dm-3 at position x and x + 10 cm respectively. How much of the substance diffuses through a cross section between these two points in the course of 2.5 minutes, provided that has been no change in the concentration profile? The diffusion coefficient of the substance is 5 x 10-5 cm2/sec. The amount of substance transported through a cross section (A), perpendicular to the direction of motion can be expressed as M = AtJ. (15 marks)

Q14. You patch clamp the soma of a neuron in cell-attached mode. With TTX in the pipette, you measure a current of 85pA from the patch clamped space of the membrane. The microscopic current for K+ is measured at 10pA under the current conditions. Given that the probability of K+ channels being opened is 0.50 at the Vm you have used, how many K+ channels exist within the patch clamped area? (4 marks)

Q15. For a given neuron, the extracellular [K+] is 8mM and the intracellular is [K+] is 144mM. Given that the current carried by potassium ions is zero and the K+ conductance is 0.5mS, what is the membrane potential? (6 marks)

Q16. Calculate the membrane potential (Vm) of a cell, given the following resistances and equilibrium potentials. (10 marks) EK = - 80mV, RK = 0.2 x 106 , ENa = 60mV, RNa = 0.2 x 106

Q20. Due to an electrolyte imbalance, a patient has following intracellular and extracellular concentrations of potassium: [K+]in = 140mM and [K+]out = 10mM in the neurons. Using the Nernst Equation calculate the change in potassium equilibrium potential in the neurons of the diseased patient with the electrolyte imbalance. Will it be easier or more difficult to generate an action potential in the diseased neuron compared to the normal neuron? (10 marks)

70mV=resting potential

Therefore, as the potential is close to the resting potential there will be a shorter refractory period, and may inhibit Na+ channel influx. It will be harder to produce another action potential.

Bibliography http://www.ionchannels.org/showabstract.php?pmid=9466713 Anatomy and physiology by Martini and Nath. Lecture notes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resting_potential