[Possible role of the potential-dependent potassium channels in the generation of responses of the pacinian corpuscles].

Action of TEA (20 mM) and 4-AP (5 mM) on mechano- and electrically excitable membranes of the Pacinian corpuscles was studied by means of the air gap technique in constantly perfused preparations. Extracellular recordings of receptor and action potentials have shown that application of TEA causes prolongation of the receptor potential and inhibition of its amplitude by 40%. 4-AP has no effect on the mechanosensitive membrane. TEA and 4-AP induce a 2-3 fold increase of the action potential duration in the first Ranvier node. The computations based on the Dodge model help revealing that inhibition of voltage-sensitive potassium channels which participate in the first-order coding of the intact receptor accounts for this increase.