Ion transport and membrane potential in CNS myelinated axons I. Normoxic conditions.

Compound resting membrane potential was recorded by the grease gap technique during normoxic conditions (37 degrees C) in rat optic nerve, a representative CNS myelinated tract. Mean potential was -47 +/- 3 (SD) mV and remained stable for 2-3 h. Input impedance of a single optic nerve axon was calculated to be approximately 5 Gomega. Contribution of the Na+ pump to resting axonal potential is estimated at -7 mV. Ouabain (10 microM to 10 mM) evoked a dose-dependent depolarization that was maximal at >/=1 mM, depolarizing the nerves to approximately 35-40% of control after 60 min. Inhibiting energy metabolism (CN- and iodoacetate) during high-dose ouabain (1-10 mM) exposure caused an additional depolarization, suggesting additional ATP-dependent, ouabain-insensitive ion transport systems. Perfusion with zero-Na+ (choline substituted) caused a transient hyperpolarization, that was greater than with tetrodotoxin (TTX; 1 microM) alone, indicating both TTX-sensitive and -insensitive Na+ influx pathways in resting rat optic nerve axons. Resting probability (P)K:PNa is calculated at 20:1. In contrast to choline-substituted solution, Li+-substituted zero-Na+ perfusate caused a rapid depolarization due to Na+ pump inhibition and the ability of Li+ to permeate the Na+ channel. TTX reduced, but did not prevent, ouabain- or zero-Na+/Li+-induced depolarization. We conclude that the primary Na+ influx path in resting rat optic nerve axons is the TTX-sensitive Na+ channel, with evidence for additional TTX-insensitive routes permeable to Na+ and Li+. In addition, maintenance of membrane potential is critically dependent on continuous Na+ pump activity due to the relatively high exchange of Na+ (via the above mentioned routes) and K+ across the membrane of resting optic axons.