The response of frog sciatic nerve action potentials to x-irradiation and metabolic (carbon monoxide) or transport (ouabain) inhibition was determined in an attempt to further identify the nature of radiation insult to nervous tissue. Carbon monoxide, ouabain (2 X 10-5 M), and nitrogen anoxia were shown to produce a near linear decline in action potential amplitude. The carbon monoxide and nitrogen inhibitions of activity were reversible in air; the carbon monoxide inhibition was light reversible. Ouabain inhibition was partially reversible by soaking the nerve in aerated Ringer's. Application of 120 kv x-rays (75 Kr at 4.9 Kr/min) to nerves during the linear decline in spike amplitude brought about a marked enhancement (146%) of inhibition by 99% CO/l% 02, nitrogen (136%), and ouabain (265%). All bhanges were shown to be statistically significant by a regression analysis. However, x-irradiation did not appear to alter the air reversibility of carbon monoxide and nitrogen inhibitions nor the reversibility in Ringerts of the ouabain inhibition. Additionally x-irradiation completely blocked light reversal of 98% CO/2% 02 inhibition and produced a decline in activity. A possible interpretation of these results is a compensation for radiation action at this dosage requiring metabolism and ion pump activity.

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