INTRODUCTIOXQualitat ive evidence indicates that fat solvent ariestlietics such as ether and chloroform cause a release of calcium in the cells of the aquatic plmant, Elodea (JIazia and Clark, '36), and in the protozoan, Aw2ocbu p r o t c m (Daugherty, '37). This study presents some quantitative evidence of calcium release in cells of higher animals under the influence of hot11 fat solvent and non-fat solvent anesthetics (cocaine).
MATER.IALS AND METHODS1. Awsthetbc solutions. The anesthetic solutions used were 2% ether, 0.4% chloroform and 27. cocaine in unbuffered frog Ringer. According to Winterstein ('26, pp. 13 and 294), tliese are anesthetic concentrations for frogs.2. Mirsclr fibrr preparations. The combined right and left gastrocnemei of 4 frogs (Rniza pipi~ws) were used for each experiment. The whole muscles were removed from each leg and placed in 1 ml of frog Ringer solution on a black glazed plate. The muscle fibers were teased away from the connective tissue with fine steel needles. The fibers from the 4 ])airs of niiisclcs were thoroughly mixed, lightly blotted with calcium-A dissertation presented to tlie faculty of the Drpnrtment of Zoology of the University of Peiins?lvnnia in p r t i a l fulfillment of tlie requirements for the degree of Doctor of Pliilosopliy.Junior fellow of tlie National Institntr of Health, 1947-48.delphia 4, P a .
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