Electrolyte distribution in toad sciatic nerve and spinal cord. 1975

C A Astrada, and E Haggi, and E Hliba, and I Izquierdo

The distribution of Na+, K+ and water was studied in spinal cord, sciatic nerve and sartorius muscle of the toad, Bufo arenarum (Hensel). Electrolyte assays and sodium washout curves were made. In sartorius muscle, extracellular water was estimated to account for 18.9% of total tissue weight and the intracellular concentrations of Na+ and K+ were 18.4 and 147.9 mEq/kg of intracellular water respectively. In spinal cord extracellular water was 17.2%, intracellular Na+ was 40.6 mEq/kg of water, and intracellular K+ was at a concentration of 134.5 mEq/kg. Interpretation of washout curves in sciatic nerve could not be as simple as in other tissues due to the connective sheath, and therefore electron micrograph measurements had to be made in order to estimate how much of the total tissue weight could be attributed to the sheath. Assuming that it had a water and electrolyte composition similar to that of plasma, the sheath corresponded to 22.3% of the nerves and contained a proportional fraction of Na+ and K+. These calculations left an 'excess' of Na+ and water to be distributed among the remaining components of sciatic nerve. Application of the pyroantimoniate histochemical technique for Na+ determination disclosed a large amount of precipitate among myelin lamellae both in sciatic nerve and in spinal cord. This might explain at least in part the distribution of the 'excess' Na+ in both nervous tissues.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009186 Myelin Sheath The lipid-rich sheath surrounding AXONS in both the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS and PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The myelin sheath is an electrical insulator and allows faster and more energetically efficient conduction of impulses. The sheath is formed by the cell membranes of glial cells (SCHWANN CELLS in the peripheral and OLIGODENDROGLIA in the central nervous system). Deterioration of the sheath in DEMYELINATING DISEASES is a serious clinical problem. Myelin,Myelin Sheaths,Sheath, Myelin,Sheaths, Myelin
D011188 Potassium An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D001834 Body Water Fluids composed mainly of water found within the body. Water, Body
D002022 Bufo arenarum A species of the true toads, Bufonidae, found in South America. Toad, Argentine,Argentine Toad,Argentine Toads,Toads, Argentine
D006651 Histocytochemistry Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods. Cytochemistry
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon
D012583 Schwann Cells Neuroglial cells of the peripheral nervous system which form the insulating myelin sheaths of peripheral axons. Schwann Cell,Cell, Schwann,Cells, Schwann

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