ASSOCIATION OF CALCIUM WITH MEMBRANES OF SQUID GIANT AXON

Abstract

Giant axons from the squid, Loligo pealei, were fixed in glutaraldehyde and postfixed in osmium tetroxide. Calcium chloride (5 mM/liter) was added to all aqueous solutions used for tissue processing. Electron-opaque deposits were found along the axonal plasma membranes, within mitochondria, and along the basal plasma membranes of Schwann cells. X-ray microprobe analysis (EMMA-4) yielded signals for calcium and phosphorus when deposits were probed, whereas these elements were not detected in the axoplasm.