Dr. Zoydburger has discovered a toxin produced in the venom of a poisonous marine invertebrate. Tests on lab mammals indicate that this toxin prevents sodium channel inactivation. How would this affect the action potentials produced in the neurons of a poisoned mammal?
What will be an ideal response?
Without sodium channel inactivation, the action potential would not repolarize as quickly, thus any function dependent upon the action potential would be prolonged, including neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic response. Also, the refractory period would not exist, thus action potentials would travel back up the axon, and down again, repeatedly.
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