METHYLENE BLUE, POTASSIUM CYANIDE AND CARBON MONOXIDE AS INDICATORS FOR STUDYING THE OXIDATION-REDUCTION POTENTIALS OF DEVELOPING MARINE EGGS

Abstract

The O2 consumption of 8 stages of Arbacia punctulata was studied by the Warburg method. KCN (5 [CHI] 10-4 M), methylene blue (.002%) and CO (99.5% pure) were used as reagents. From the effects on the rate of O2 consumption it was concluded that the gastrula stage has the highest (most positive) oxidation-reduction potential, the unfertilized egg, the lowest. These results are interpreted on the basis of changes in the concs. of oxidants as compared with reductants of the respiratory enzyme systems as affected by cyanide and methylene blue, rather than as combinations with the heme of the respiratory enzyme. CO is interpreted as indirectly depressing the potential by preventing the oxidized forms of the enzymes from existing. The whole system suffers changes under the named reagents, leading towards or away from the optimum Eh levels and maximum O2 consumption.