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Journal of Experimental Biology 38,315-322 (1961)
Published by Company of Biologists 1961

Sodium and Potassium Fluxes in the Abdominal Nerve Cord of the Cockroach, Periplaneta Americana L

J. E. TREHERNE ¹

¹ A.R.C. Unit of Insect Physiology, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

1. The influx of sodium and potassium ions into the central nervous system of Periplaneta americana has been studied by measuring the increase in radioactivity within the abdominal nerve cord following the injection of ²⁴NA and ⁴²K. into the haemolymph.

2. The calculated influx of sodium ions was approximately 320 mM./l. of nerve cord water/hr. and of potassium ions was 312 mM./l. of nerve cord water/hr. These values are very approximately equivalent to an influx per unit area of nerve cord surface of 13.9 x 10^-2 M cm. ^-2 sec.^-1 for sodium and 13.5 x 10^-12 M cm. ^-2 sec.^-1 for potassium ions.

3. The relatively rapid influxes of these ions are discussed in relation to the postulated function of the nerve sheath as a diffusion barrier. It is suggested that a dynamic steady state rather than a static impermeability must exist across the sheath surrounding the central nervous system in this insect.