Extracellular calcium, magnesium, and sodium ion competition in the conductance control of the photosensory membrane of Limulus ventral nerve photoreceptor.

The membrane potential in the dark and the saturated response height of the ventral nerve photoreceptor of Limulus was measured by an intracellular electrode while the external concentra­ tion of calcium, magnesium and sodium ions was varied. Decreasing the extracellular calcium concentration from 10-2 mol/1 causes a calcium-dependent lowering of the dark membrane potential and at very low concentrations (< ! 10“ 8 mol/1 a reversal to ca. + 5 to +11 mV, if the external magnesium concentration is also low. Also, the light response diminishes with decreasing extracellular calcium concentration and disappears at a concentration of 10~9 mol/1. External magnesium can substitute for certain properties of extracellular calcium. Lowering the extracellular sodium concentration from 543 mmol/1 to 30 — 50 mmol/1 reduces the dark membrane potential and the light responses at normal calcium concentration, whereas at low calcium concentration it causes a substantial rise of both. Interpretation: The results are in accordance with our working hypothesis that a strong reduc­ tion of the external calcium (and magnesium) concentration causes a calcium concentration dependent opening of “ light channels” in the dark. Additional lowering the extracellular sodium concentration counteracts this effect; opening and closing of light channels is controlled by negative binding sites on the cell membrane for which calcium and sodium ions compete with an antagonistic action.