EFFECT OF ETHER AND PENTOBARBITAL ON THE POLARISATION STATE OF CENTRAL NERVOUS ELEMENTS

Abstract

During asphyxiation of the spinal cord, the gray matter becomes negative with respect to an anterior root. This potential was due to the depolarization of nervous elements. During the first mins. of asphyxiation it indicated the depolarization of the most sensitive neuron parts, the nerve cells. The admn. of the narcotics pentobarbital and ether did not produce a consistent potential difference between gray and white matter of the cord, but depressed the asphyxial depolarization potential. From the depression of the asphyxial depolarization potential and the absence of an electrical effect of the admn. of these narcotics, it was concluded that pentobarbital and ether cause a uniform depolarization of the neuron. Asphyxial depolarization potentials were also led off from the cerebral cortex. They were influenced similarly by pentobarbital as the spinal asphyxial potentials. From the effect on the asphyxial depolarization potential it can be concluded that pentobarbital in narcotic doses causes a sizable depolarization of central nervous elements. An attempt is made to combine these and other known effects of narcotics on nervous structures in a theory of narcosis.