The effect of temperature on the sodium and potassium permeability changes in myelinated nerve fibres of Xenopus laevis

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effects which changes in temperature have on the constants governing the permeability changes in the myelinated nerve fibre. Voltage clamp experiments were carried out with the node under investigation at various temperatures. The membrane current records so obtained were then analysed as in previous investigations (Frankenhaeuser, 1960, 1963) and the rate constants am, Pm' Oh /Ah, oan and fn, and the permeability constants PNa and P'K were calculated. The temperature coefficients (Qlo) were then determined from these data.