Abstract
The effect of toxaphene upon ion fluxes of the central nervous system (CNS) of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), was studied in vitro. The CNS, divided into three sections (brain, thoracic, and abdominal), was exposed to 10 M toxaphene in saline containing 24Na+, 42K+, 36Cl‐, or 45Ca++. Uptake and efflux of these ions were evaluated. Toxaphene was responsible for significant increases in the internal levels of 42K+ and 45Ca++, but had little affect upon Na or 36Cl‐ movements. The resulting concentration changes of the ions may be involved in the neural activity observed with toxaphene poisoning. Of the three CNS sections, significant changes were more numerous and occurred earlier in abdominal sections.
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