Post-mortem Increase of Potassium in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid

Abstract

THE composition of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid is similar so far as content of electrolytes is concerned. There is also evidence that cerebrospinal fluid can be used as a good medium for maintaining in vitro the activity of isolated organs: frog heart, for example. But if the cerebrospinal fluid of dead, instead of living, subjects is used, the frog heart stops working immediately. This will also occur with atropinized preparations. Potassium was supposed to be responsible for this effect.