[Electrical model of the electroreceptor of the ampulla of Lorenzini].

An electrical model is proposed for the Lorenzinian ampulla receptor epithelium. The model is based on the authors' experimental results and explains most of the experimental data available in literature, including an unusual sign of spike response in afferent fibres and complex patterns of electroreceptor responses to the applied stimuli. Its main assumption is an N-shaped voltage-current relation of the receptor cell apical membrane possessing, within the range of operation, a stationary negative-slope resistance.