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Effects of Local Anaesthetic on the State of Water in Frog Nerves

Nature volume 218, pages 1051–1053 (1968)Cite this article

Abstract

THE role of water in neurophysiology is much debated with some investigators attributing to water a very active role1,2 and others assigning to it a passive participation3,4. It has been shown recently5 that significant changes in the physical-chemical characteristics of the intracellular water accompany the depolarization of nerve fibres in the sciatic nerve trunk of the frog. When the nerve trunk was depolarized either chemically or electrically it was observed that the rate of exchange between the intracellular and extracellular water was reduced. It was also seen that the concentration of water in the cell interior was reduced on depolarization of the nerve trunk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

    O. G. FRITZ JUN., A. C. SCOTT & T. J. SWIFT

Authors
  1. O. G. FRITZ JUN.
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  2. A. C. SCOTT
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  3. T. J. SWIFT
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FRITZ, O., SCOTT, A. & SWIFT, T. Effects of Local Anaesthetic on the State of Water in Frog Nerves. Nature 218, 1051–1053 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/2181051a0

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