428 



IMMUNO-CATALYSIS 



Table XXIII 



High plasma potassium values have also been reported in various 

 allergies, and bronchial asthma, dermatitis and severe infections 

 (Fenn, 1940). Thaler (1935) reported that the injection of histamine 

 causes an increase in the plasma potassium. 



An increase -in both potassium and acetylcholine has been detected 

 in the venous blood from stimulated muscle, and in the heart after 

 vagal stimulation. It is reported that the injection of potassium liberates 

 both acetylcholine and adrenalin from the adrenal gland. 



Asphyxia is one of the conditions produced in anaphylactic shock. 

 Eppinger, et at. (1928) reported that during histamine and peptone 

 shocks there is marked decrease in the volume of oxygen consumed by 

 the shock animals and a simultaneous increase in the lactic acid con- 

 tent of the blood. In asphyxia, there is a liberation of potassium and 

 a stimulation of the adrenals. When the nerve fibre, which is exception- 

 ally rich in this ion, is stimulated or deprived of oxygen, potassium 

 diffuses rapidly into the surrounding fluid. The potassium is restored 

 again after the re-admission of oxygen. It is believed that a nerve 

 adequately supplied with oxygen does not lose potassium; a potential 

 difference between the surface of the fibre and its interior is maintained 

 by a difference in K"*" concentration. The excitability of the nerve 

 depends on the maintenance of this condition. In asphyxia when 

 potassium diffuses out into the surrounding fluid a reduction in the 

 potential difference and therefore a corresponding reduction in the ex- 

 citability of the nerve occurs. Depending on the concentration of the 

 diffused potassium in the surrounding fluid, a complete loss of ex- 

 citability and therefore muscular function, would result. 



b. Potassium-Calcium Antagonism. Besredka (1907), and Kastle, 

 et al. (1913) reported that calcium chloride, injected the day before 



