A review of the electrophysiological, pharmacological and single channel properties of heart ventricle muscle cells in the snailLymnaea stagnalis

Although a considerable body of information has accumulated describing the pharmacological properties of a wide range of molluscan muscle types, the physiological bases underlying these properties have not been thoroughly investigated. At present, little is known about the types of ion channels and their regulation in molluscan muscle cell membranes. Voltage-clamp, and more recently, patch-clamp techniques have revealed molluscan muscles possess a complex array of channel types with various pharmacological and electrophysiological properties. The gating properties of these channels and their modulation by chemical agents, however, are still poorly understood. This review summarizes some aspects of molluscan muscle function with particular reference to the heart ventricle muscle of the pond snail,Lymnaea stagnalis.