Anomalous Rectification in the Squid Giant Axon Injected with Tetraethylammonium Chloride

Abstract

The injection of tetraethylammonium chloride into the giant axon of the squid prolongs the action potential and eliminates most of the late current under voltage-clamp. Experiments on fibers in an external medium of high potassium ion concentration demonstrate that injected tetraethylammonium chloride causes rectification of the instantaneous current-voltage curve for potassium by excluding outward current. This interference with the flow of outward potassium ion current underlies the prolongation of the action potential seen in tetraethylammonium-injected fibers.