THE EFFECT OF INSULIN ON THE RESPIRATORY EXCHANGE OF DECEREBRATE AND DECAPITATE CATS

Abstract

In a decerebrate cat injected with insulin in which there were no respiratory complications through blood clot etc., the R.Q. was found to rise to approximately 1 and the O2 consumption to remain constant until just before convulsions. After convulsions the R.Q. fell, and the O2 consumption and ventilation increased. In decapitate cats the O2 consumption fell when hypersensitivity was observed, but rose whenever there were muscle spasms; the R.Q. rose before and fell after convulsions. In curarized decapitate cats the O2 consumption varied without following any general rule, but the R.Q. rose to 1, then fell later. Upon calculating the caloric output it was found that a decrease occurred just before convulsions and an increase during or after convulsions. The caloric output due to combustion of carbohydrate rose from practically zero to 100%.