Effects of deuterium oxide on mechano-sensory receptor.

In the crayfish stretch receptor organ, a total substitution of D2O for H2O in the bathing solution produced a decrease in the amplitude of the receptor potential to a level of 34% of the control. The electrical resistance of the receptor neuron was slightly increased by the D2O substitution. The input capacitance of the neuron was unchanged. The viscoelastic properties of the receptor muscle were not altered by D2O. Thus, we conclude that D2O has an inhibitory effect on the transduction process which links the deformation of the dendrites with the permeability increase that is responsible for the receptor potential.