A STUDY OF ANION AND CATION EFFECTS ON WATER ABSORPTION BY BRAIN TISSUE

Abstract

The cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, mid-brain and medulla removed from the brain of decapitated rabbits swell less in M/10 salt solutions than in distilled water. The anions of K salts inhibit swelling in the order citrate >tartrate >oxalate, SO4 > acetate > CNS >Br>NO3>Cl>I; the effect of nitrate and halogens is almost the same, especially in the case of the cerebellum and mid-brain. The cations of the chlorides inhibit swelling in the order Ca, Ba, Sr > Na, Li > K, Cs, Rb. The absolute amount of water absorption by the 4 parts of the brain, determined by percentage increase in weight, is different in the same salt solution as well as the amount relative to the swelling of the brain portions in distilled water. The authors discuss a proposed colloid chemical basis of mental disorders and suggest that a possible factor may be a disturbance of the ionic equilibrium between the brain protoplasm and the blood. Such disturbance of equilibrium might affect the hydration of the brain cells.