POTASSIUM RETENTION IN CRAB NERVE

Spectrophotometric determinations of the potassium content of small volumes of sea water brought into contact with crab nerves over half-hour intervals demonstrate (a) a continuous loss of potassium from the fibers while at rest in oxygen; (b) an appreciable increase in the leakage during anoxia; (c) a reabsorption of potassium during postanoxic recovery; and (d) a reduction in the amplitude of the anoxic and postanoxic changes in the presence of glucose.