The Action of Ethyl Carbamate (Urethane) on the Respiration of Active and Blocked Embryonic Cells

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Abstract
The effects of a series of concns. of the narcotic, ethyl carbamate (urethane), on the O2 consumption of grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis) embryos, both in the mitotically active and inactive stages, were determined. In general, low concns. of urethane produce marked stimulation of the O2 consumption while high concns. produce inhibition. No significant statistical differences in response to the narcotic by active or blocked embryos were found. Initial rates of O2 consumption by the embryos do not seem to be determining factors in the response to the narcotic. Inhibitory effects of the narcotic on the O2 consumption can be adequately expressed by an equation derived from the law of mass action. No evidence is available for assuming the existence in this form of parallel respiratory systems. Stimulatory effects of low concns. of narcotic on the O2 consumption for both blocked and active embryos are definite and regular. No explanation for such reactions is at hand.