The effect of diameter on the electrical constants of frog skeletal muscle fibres

Authors:
  • AHA. L. Hodgkin
    A. L. Hodgkin
  • SNS. Nakajima
    S. Nakajima
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Abstract
1. Electrical constants were determined on isolated single fibres or on fibres from bundles from frog's twitch muscles by analysing the low frequency cable properties. 2. The sarcoplasmic conductivity (Gi) was 5·9 mmho/cm at 20° C, and its temperature coefficient (Q10) was 1·37. 3. The Q10 of the membrane conductance (GM) was 1·49, and that of the membrane capacity (CM) was 1·02. 4. CM increases with diameter (D) in an approximately linear manner: the values were 4·6 μF/cm2 at D = 50 μ, and 8·5 μF/cm2 at D = 130 μ. 5. GM also increases with diameter, being 0·21 mmho/cm2 at D = 50 μ and 0·37 mmho/cm2 at D = 130 μ. 6. These results suggest that the transverse tubular system contributes substantially to the values of low frequency capacity and conductance measured at the surface membrane.

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