THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE BY NERVE

Abstract

1. A modified Osterhout respiratory apparatus for the detection of CO(2) from nerve is described. 2. The lateral-line nerve from the dogfish discharges CO(2) at first with a gush for half an hour or so and then steadily at a lower rate for several hours. 3. Simple handling of the nerve does not increase the output of CO(2); cutting it revives gush. 4. The CO(2) produced by nerve is not escaping simply from a reservoir but is a true nervous metabolite. 5. The rate of discharge of CO(2) from a quiescent nerve varied from 0.0071 to 0.0128 mg. per gram of nerve per minute and averaged 0.0095 mg. 6. Stimulated nerve showed an increased rate of CO(2) production of 15.8 percent over that of quiescent nerve. 7. The results of these studies indicate that chemical change is a factor in nerve transmission.