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J Neurophysiol 96: 695-709, 2006; doi:10.1152/jn.00083.2006
0022-3077/06 $8.00
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Action Potentials Induce Uniform Calcium Influx in Mammalian Myelinated Optic Nerves

Chuan-Li Zhang1, J. Adam Wilson2, Justin Williams2 and Shing Yan Chiu1

1Departments of Physiology and 2Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, Wisconsin

Submitted 24 January 2006; accepted in final form 15 May 2006

The myelin sheath enables saltatory conduction by demarcating the axon into a narrow nodal region for excitation and an extended, insulated internodal region for efficient spread of passive current. This anatomical demarcation produces a dramatic heterogeneity in ionic fluxes during excitation, a classical example being the restriction of Na influx at the node. Recent studies have revealed that action potentials also induce calcium influx into myelinated axons of mammalian optic nerves. Does calcium influx in myelinated axons show spatial heterogeneity during nerve excitation? To address this, we analyzed spatial profiles of axonal calcium transients during action potentials by selectively staining axons with calcium indicators and subjected the data to theoretical analysis with parameters for axial calcium diffusion empirically determined using photolysis of caged compounds. The results show surprisingly that during action potentials, calcium influx occurs uniformly along an axon of a fully myelinated mouse optic nerve.

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: S.Y. Chiu, Dept. of Physiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, 1300 University Ave., 277 Medical Science Bldg., Madison, WI 53706 (E-mail: chiu{at}physiology.wisc.edu)




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