You decide to do a series of experiments to determine where the toxin has its effect. You accomplish this by using a good, old- fashioned sciatic nerve/gastrocnemius preparation from a frog leg. This preparation dissects out the sciatic nerve (which contains the alpha-motor neuron fibers) still connected to the gastrocnemius (calf) muscle as shown below. The prep is placed in artificial ECF. Muscle Nerve Femur When you stimulate the nerve electrically, the muscle contracts. When you directly stimulate the muscle electrically, it also contracts. You then add the curare to the artificial ECF. Now, when you stimulate the nerve, the muscle no longer contracts. However, when you stimulate the muscle directly, it does contract. Based solely on these data, this means curare is potentially acting on: O Either the alpha motor neurons' ability to conduct action potentials, or the muscle's ability to conduct action potentials, but not on the neuromuscular junction. O Either the alpha motor neurons' ability to conduct action potentials, or the neuromuscular junction, but not the muscle's ability to conduct action potentials. Either the neuromuscular junction or the muscle's ability to conduct action potentials, but not on the alpha motor neurons' ability to conduct action potentials. O It must only be affecting the muscle's ability to conduct action potentials. It must only be affecting the neuromuscular junction. It must only be affecting the alpha motor neurons' ability to conduct action potentials. It could potentially be affecting any of these components.

1st Edition

ISBN:9781938168130

Author:Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Peter DeSaix, Dean H. Kruse, Brandon Poe, Eddie Johnson, Jody E. Johnson, Oksana Korol, J. Gordon Betts, Mark Womble

Publisher:Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Peter DeSaix, Dean H. Kruse, Brandon Poe, Eddie Johnson, Jody E. Johnson, Oksana Korol, J. Gordon Betts, Mark Womble