The Effects of Certain Depressing Agents on Intracellular Oxidation of Indicators in Hydra

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Abstract
After subjection of Pelmatohydra and Chlorohydra to alkaline KCN in concns. ranging from M/200 to M/4000 for periods from 5 mins. to 21/2 hrs., according to concn., intracellular oxidation of completely reduced Janus green and the indophenol reaction in the regions remaining intact are less rapid than in controls during all or some part of the observation period in approx. 2/3 of the intact regions, not visibly different from, or more rapid than in controls in approximately 1/3. With decrease of the pH of the KCN soln. to a point near neutrality, frequency and degree of retardation of intracellular dye oxidation increase. Slight intracellular change in color of neutral red toward yellow in alkaline KCN and absence of such change in KOH and also in NaOH suggest that some KCN enters the cells in molecular form and increases intracellular pH by decomposition within the cells. After KOH and NaOH in various concns. and for different times, intracellular dye oxidation is usually more rapid than in controls. On the basis of the data it appears probable that, with alkaline KCN, increase in intracellular pH and perhaps also the high pH of the external soln. are the chief factors in decreasing or overbalancing the retarding effect of cyanide on intracellular dye oxidation. After subjn. to M/20 and M/40 LiCl, and to M/25-M/500 NaN3 for vari-ous periods, dye oxidation and the indophenol reaction are less rapid than in controls in 80-100%, and after M/40 NaF in 100% of the regions remaining intact. Even after tentacles, stalk, and foot, and in some cases the hypostome have disintegrated, toxic effects are completely reversible after return to water, as indicated not only by reappearance of contractility and initiation of reconstitution, but also by dye oxidation. With the concns. used, recovery after KCN and LiCl is more rapid than after NaN3 and NaF. After all 4 agents, dye oxidation sooner or later becomes more rapid than in controls.
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