THE INFLUENCE OF BLOOD CONSTITUENTS ON OXYGEN CONSUMPTION IN NERVE

Abstract

The O consumption of dog nerve, measured by a modified Warburg technique, was 36% greater in serum than in Ringer soln. Other tissues show a similar, but quantitatively specific, behavior, increases varying up to 116% for liver and even more for retina. In nerve, this increased respiration is related to the serum proteins; glycine in Ringer leads to an increase, lecithin and acetylcholine to marked decreases. Urea, creatine, lactic acid and glucose are indifferent to nerve respiration. The proteins probably play a physical role via osmotic effects and maintenance of the normal semi-permeability of the plasma membrane. This is suggested in part by the ability of serum to prevent weight increases which occur in "isotonic" salt solns.