The ability of some carboxylic acids to maintain phosphate levels and support electrical stimulation in cerebral tissues

Abstract

With pyruvate (as well as with glucose) as substrate respiration of guinea pig cerebral cortex slices increased on passage of electrical impulses. Respiration of slices in glucose or pyruvate was dependent on the concn. of Ca ion in the media. The 2 substrates gave similar respiratory rates with 2 concns. of Ca ion. Electrical stimulation produced rates of respiration which were also dependent on the Ca ion concns. of the medium. Respiration of slices metabolizing 0.02 [image] succinate, alpha-ketoglutarate, citrate or fumarate was not increased by the application of electrical impulses. There was a significant fall in the energy-rich phosphate content of slices respiring in glucose, citrate or succinate, during the passage of electrical impulses.