1. A study of the effect of denervation on the inorganic cation content of muscle has been carried out. In this study 69 rats were employed.

2. By using the flame photometer for the estimation of sodium and potassium and increasing the sensitivity of previous methods for the estimation of calcium and magnesium, it has been possible to carry out analyses for all these ions on as little as 0.5 gm. of tissue.

3. It was observed that following neurotomy the concentration of sodium and calcium in the whole muscle increased significantly while at the same time the potassium content decreased. The magnesium content remained unchanged during the period studied.

4. The significance of these results has been discussed.

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Copyright, 1950, by The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research
1950
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