Imagine you pharmacologically treat a neuron so that its membrane\'s permeabilit

Question

Imagine you pharmacologically treat a neuron so that its membrane's permeability to sodium decreases all the way to zero (perhaps the drug is a non-specific blocker of all Na++ channels). The other conditions of the cell (e.g. concentrations of ions in the intracellular and extracellular fluid, functioning of other ion channels) remain the same. What will happen to the cell's resting membrane potential?

A. It will decrease (become more negative) slightly.

B. It will increase (become more positive) slightly.

C. It will decrease (become more negative) substantially - settling below the equilibrium potential of K++.

D. It will increase (become more positive) substantially - settling above the equilibrium potential of Na++.

E. Its membrane potential will not change after the drug treatment.

Explanation / Answer

Na/K plays an important role in establishing resting membrane potential.

K+ tries to bring potential to -90mv , but due to Na+ , the RMP is about -70mv.

If there is no Na+ , then RMP will shift toward more negative value (towards -90mv). Thus correct choice should be:

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