Effects of electrical pulses on the distribution of radioactive phosphate in cerebral tissues

Abstract

A study was made of the effects of electrical pulses applied for 10 seconds on the distribution of radio-activity amongst the acid-soluble phosphates of guinea-pig cerebral cortex. In tissues exposed to pulses for 10 sec. the relative specific activity of inorganic phosphate decreased from 199.3 to 160, that of the [gamma]-P of adenosine triphosphate from 110.6 to 43.6, and that of creatine phosphate from 92 to 40. Accompanying the decrease in the relative specific activity of the acid-soluble P, the residual insoluble P of the tissues exposed to pulses showed an increase as compared with the control tissues. Results are discussed in the light of a proposed exchange mechanism operating between the acid-soluble and -insoluble phosphates.