ON THE NATURE OF THE NERVE IMPULSE

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
For the study of the effect of CO on the O uptake of resting nerves the Warburg manometric technique was employed. The respiration of nerve is inhibited in the dark by CO-0 mixtures. This inhibition may be fairly complete, the degree depending on the partial pressure of the CO and upon conditions of diffusion in the nerve. Light markedly decreases this inhibition, the decrease stopping when the illumination is discontinued. The maximum height of the action potential as measured by the cathode ray oscillograph is reduced in CO-0 mixtures in the dark, and ultimately to zero, the time required for extinction depending on the partial pressure of the CO. Intense illumination of the nerve during the period of the failure causes the height of the action potential to rise to, and in some cases to exceed somewhat the normal level. When illumination is discontinued, the action potential does not drop immediately to the original extinction curve, but does so gradually after a period of time. This period of aftereffect of light is of fairly constant duration and usually lasts 25 to 30 min. These facts are interpreted to mean that the action potential whether aerobic or anaerobic requires an oxidation or oxygenation of substances in nerve and that activation of the O by a respiratory enzyme similar to that of Warburg is essential. The mechanism of this oxidation system is briefly discussed.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: