Abstract
Summary
Dialysis of brain homogenates from adult Long-Evans rats given intraperitoneal injections of radioactive tracers revealed that 2.5% to 3.4% of brain potassium and sodium were “bound,” i.e., had not passed a cellophane dialysis membrane after 2 hours' dialysis at room temperature. These values are similar to those we have previously observed in the guinea pig. No binding was demonstrated by this technic in newborn or 7-day-old rats. Extent of binding progressively increased from 14 days to adulthood. The development of myelination was studied in the Long-Evans rat and was found to parallel the development of sodium and potassium binding. These observations support the view that electrolyte binding, as here defined, is related to the presence of myelin.
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