CHEMICAL FACTORS IN THE EXCITATION OF CEREBRAL TISSUES

Abstract

Apparatus and techniques are described for maintaining isolated mammalian cerebral tissues in an excitable condition. Their excitability has been demonstrated by three types of observation: (1) Measurement of change in chemical composition in response to electrical stimulation. Most attention has been paid to changes in K, Na, and phosphocreatine; (2) Resting membrane potentials have been measured by glass micropipette electrodes, and depolarization demonstrated after applying brief electrical pulses to the tissue; and (3) Occasional spike discharges have been observed on penetrating the tissue with micropipette electrodes. Association between chemical and electrical events in the isolated tissue has been demonstrated in the following situations: (1) During and after electrical stimulation the time-course of change in potential and in Na and K content are similar; and (2) The basic protein clupein was effective in inhibiting active ion movements and in preventing the establishment of normal resting potentials, and in both these actions it was antagonized by ganglioside preparation. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 14, 1962
Accession Number
AD0278673

Entities

People

  • Henry Mcilwain

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Composition
  • Depolarization
  • Electrodes
  • Excitation
  • Measurement
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Membranes
  • Observation
  • Phosphoamino Acids
  • Tissues

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Plasma Physics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design