BRAIN METABOLISM IN EMOTIONAL EXCITEMENT AND IN SLEEP

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Abstract
Lactic acid was detd. in the brains of young albino rats which had been killed by immersion in liquid air to fix any biochemical changes in the tissues and limit post mortem glycolysis. Rats taken in the sleeping state gave a mean brain lactic acid content of 12.2 mg.%, which was significantly lower than the mean of 18.8 mg. % given by litter-mate controls. Rats sacrificed in a state of emotional excitement produced by repeated removal of their support, showed a lactic acid value of 37.5mg. %. This rise of 300% above the sleeping value, was shown to be a transient effect followed by a rapid return to normal when the stimulus was discontinued. That the rise was not due to concomitant muscular activity was shown by the fact that the effect was still observed in animals immobilized by tubocurarine and also that muscular exercise did not raise the brain lactic acid values in rats conditioned to taking exercise.

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