Effect of Air Ions on Succinoxidase Activity of the Rat Adrenal Gland.

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Abstract
Male rats were maintained in an atmosphere of ionized air produced by alpha emissions from radioactive polonium 210 foil. An excess of positively or of negatively charged ions was developed by the use of an electrically charged screen adjacent to the polonium emitter which removed 1 type of ion in accordance with the charge placed on the screen. In experiments with negatively ionized air, the concentration of small ions averaged 4500-6000 negative ions /cc and 300-400 positive; in the positively ionized air, 12,000-17,000 positive ions / cc and 200-250 neg. The effect of air ions, as well as other stimuli, on the succinoxidase activity of the rat adrenal gland was studied. The activity status of the animal was found to affect the adrenal succinoxidase; during a period of maximum activity (night) adrenal succinoxidase averaged 226 [plus or minus]_ 19.3 (QO2, N); during minimum activity (day), 175 [plus or minus] 8.5. Electric shock produced a rise in adrenal succinoxidase activity of 46.9% over the control values. After 4 hours in positively ionized air a reduction in activity of 13.3% which was statistically significant, was found; but after 4 hours in negatively ionized air, there was only a slight rise which was not significant. A single injection of 5 mg ACTH produced a moderate rise (10.6%) whereas the same dose given twice daily for 6 days resulted in a significant fall (18.1%) in adrenal succinoxidase.