Introduction to the Study and Role of Background Current Mechanisms in the Heart

摘要: The concept of background current mechanisms has a very long history since the passive permeability excitable cells was studied well before active gated conductances were discovered. One earliest theories resting potential across cell membranes due to (Bernstein (1902), who proposed that behaves like potassium electrode. If indeed membrane permeable only K+ ions then these would be in thermodynamic equilibrium and no energy required maintain state. When it shown chloride are also close their distribution, idea developed an example Gibbs-Donnan (Boyle & Conway, 1941), with Cl− both balance same potential. For this theory correct have impermeable sodium ions.