Temperature and Charge Transfer in a Receptor Membrane

Abstract

The rate of rise and the amplitude of a mechanically elicited generator potential in a receptor membrane (Pacinian corpuscle) increases markedly with temperature. By contrast, the amplitude of the action potential of the Ranvier node adjacent to the receptor membrane remains practically unchanged over a wide range of temperature. The activation energy of the rate-limiting process in excitation of the receptor membrane is high; it indicates the existence of a high potential energy barrier for charge transfer.