VISCOSITY CHANGES IN AXOPLASM UNDER STIMULATION

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Abstract
More than 50 whole stellate nerve and giant axon prepns. were dissected from the Atlantic squid, Loligo Pealii. Upon mechanical stimulation these preparations exhibited a palpable increase in turgor. Axoplasm exuded from all cut giant axons not stimulated above threshold but failed to do so during stimulation. Discontinuance of stimulation permitted resumption of axoplasm extrusion. Control expts. excluded contraction of axis cylinder membrane, osmosis, and electro-osmosis as factors producing retention of axoplasm. Abolition of extrusion of axoplasm by stimulation indicates an increase in the viscosity of the axoplasm and a change of state (Gelation). Recurrence of extrusion following discontinuance of stimulation above threshold indicates a decrease in the viscosity of the axoplasm and a reversal of the change of state (Solvation). The biochemical mechanism, Gelation-Solvation, is shown to follow stimulation of axoplasm above threshold and points to a series of related mechanisms associated with it in the production of the action current.
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