Internodal potassium currents can generate ectopic impulses in mammalian myelinated axons
Kapoor, R.; Smith, K.J.; Felts, P.A.; Davies, M.
Brain Research 611(1): 165-169
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0006-8993 PMID: 8518945 DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(93)91790-y
Accession: 008900945
Positive clinical symptoms can arise from ectopic action potentials in several disorders of myelinated axons. Here we report that an elevated K+ concentration in the periaxonal, internodal space can cause internodal K+ currents to become excitatory, resulting in slow potential oscillations and associated bursts of ectopic spikes. Ectopic firing may therefore be favoured by conditions in which periaxonal K+ buffering is compromised.