Theories and Models of Temperature Transduction

Braun, Hans; Schäfer, Klaus; Wissing, Heimo

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-75076-2_3

Cited by 12 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…39 Recent work in mammalian systems strongly suggests that temperature-dependent ion-channel transport underlies thermoreceptor function. 40,41 We reiterate that the thermopower mechanism cannot be fully accepted until more detailed electrophysiology experiments are conducted; in particular, an exact temperature gradient measurement, coupled with voltage measurements in an ampulla, and the corresponding primary afferent spike train, are required simultaneously.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extracellular signal fluctuations in shark electrosensors

Brown

Hughes

Hutchison

2003

Fluctuations and Noise in Biological, Biophysical, and Biomedical Systems

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We examine the roll of an extracellular gel in the functioning of the electrosensors of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays). Here we focus on physical characteristics of the gel and their mechanistic relevance to the observed functioning of the electrosensors. The electrosensitive organs show sharp transient responses to both tiny electrical fluctuations and temperature fluctuations. We present a thermoelectric characterization of the gel. The data suggest a gel-mediated mechanism of transducing thermal fluctuations to electrical fluctuations in the electrosensor, independent of the sensing cells. We also present frequency-dependent electrical properties of the gel collected using electrical impedance spectroscopy. From these measurements we try to extract characteristic relaxation times. We analyze these results within the context of the electrosensors' bandwidth, as demonstrated in previous behavioral experiments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extracellular signal fluctuations in shark electrosensors

Brown

Hughes

Hutchison

2003

Fluctuations and Noise in Biological, Biophysical, and Biomedical Systems

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“…The dynamic overshoots do not always match the excitatory/inhibitory pattern of the static response to temperature change (e.g., see Fig. 2), and this distinguishes the organs from the majority of cold receptors, for instance [40]. Many authors have suggested that the transient dynamic response is somehow intertwined with the organ's electric sensitivity.…”

Section: Thermoelectric Datamentioning

confidence: 97%

Temperature response in electrosensors and thermal voltages in electrolytes

Brown

2009

J Biol Phys

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Temperature sensation is increasingly well understood in several model organisms. One of the most sensitive organs to temperature changes is the functional electrosensor of sharks and their relatives; its extreme thermal responsiveness, in excised preparations, has not been mechanistically described. In recent years, conflicting reports have appeared concerning the properties of a hydrogel that fills the ampullae of Lorenzini. The appearance of a thermoelectric effect in the gel (or, using different methods, a reported lack thereof) suggested a link between the exquisite electrosense and the thermal response of the electroreceptors (or, alternately, denied that link). I review available electrophysiology evidence of the organ's temperature response, calculate a theoretical gel signal prediction using physical chemistry, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the existing gel measurements, and discuss broader implications for the ampullae and temperature sensation.

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