CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE NERVES OF COLD-BLOODED VERTEBRATES

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Abstract
The rate of CO2 production by the leg nerves of the Louisiana bullfrog is, in mgm. per gm. of nerve per min., 0.0022 in winter and 0.0034 in summer individuals, an increase of about 55%. The rate of CO2 production by lateral-line nerve of the dogfish averages 0.0024 mgm. of gas per gm. of nerve per min. In rates of CO2 production the distal and proximal portions of the lateral-line nerve of the dogfish are indistinguishable. There is no evidence of a metabolic gradient in this nerve. The nerve fibers of the lateral-line nerve of the dogfish discharge CO2 at a rate of from 0.0033 to 0.0040 mgm. per gm. of nerve fiber per min. or at a rate some 66% higher than that of the nerve as a whole. , One cm. of nerve fiber from the lateral-line nerve of the dogfish at rest discharges 1.1 X1O-8 mgm. of CO2 per min. On stimulation the CO2 output is increased by 1.7X10-9 mgm. Each impulse in a series of nervous impulses passing over 1 cm. of such a nerve fiber liberates approximately 2.8X10-13 mgm. of CO2 or about 3,850,000 molecules of that gas. A method is described for the measurement of very minute volumes of CO2 down to 2.5X10-5 cc.

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