458
MALCOLM S. GORDON
materials deriving from fishes, likewise all studies of pressure effects at
the cell and tissue levels which involve preparations coming from fishes,
have been directed primarily toward understanding of general physiological questions rather than toward understanding the nature of pressure
effects on fishes. However, even these papers are few in number.
Lebedeva et al. (1965) included carp muscle actomyosin as one of
four types of vertebrate skeletal muscle actomyosin (the others were
rabbit, pigeon, and frog proteins) on which they studied the effects of
pressures of 500-5000 atm. Their primary interest was in determining
whether or not across-the-board differences exist in the properties of this
important protein between ectothermous and endothermous animals.
Among other things, they found that adcnosinetriphosphabse ( ATF'ase )
activity of this protein was more sensitive to pressure in the ectotherm
preparations than it was in the endotherm samples. They concluded that
there appear to be differences between the two groups, and that carp
preparations, in particular, are not very resistant to high pressures.
Brown (1934-1935) studied pressure effects on isolated pectoral fin
muscles of red groupers, Epinephelus morio. This work was part of a
more extensive study of the mechanism of striated muscle contraction.
It is placed in its proper perspective in the review of Johnson et al.
( 1954).
Ebbecke (1935a) studied the effects of rapidly applied and released
short duration compressions up to 600 atm on the beating of isolated
hearts of cat sharks, ScylIium canicula. He did only a few experiments
with shark hearts, with results generally similar to those obtained in
much more extensive studies on isolated frog hearts. Pressure pulses
were able to stop the beating of active hearts or start u p inactive hearts.
Pressures to about 400 atm generally increased both the frequency and
the amplitude of the beat. Higher pressures produced irreversible damage to the preparations. Cattell (1936) and Johnson et al. (1954) put
this work into perspective in terms of understanding of mechanisms of
cardiac function.
Marsland (1944), as part of a series of studies on pressure effects
on protoplasmic movements within single cells, studied the effects of
pressures up to 500 atm on the melanophores of isolated scales of the
killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. He found that increased pressure inhibited the concentration of melanophore pigment, that this effect was
independent of the innervation of the cells, and that low temperature
(6OC) enhanced the effect while high temperature (30°C) reduced it.
Johnson et al. (1954) and Knight-Jones and Morgan (1966) discuss
these and related results.
The studies of Regnard (1885) and of Draper and Edwards (1932)
MALCOLM S. GORDON
materials deriving from fishes, likewise all studies of pressure effects at
the cell and tissue levels which involve preparations coming from fishes,
have been directed primarily toward understanding of general physiological questions rather than toward understanding the nature of pressure
effects on fishes. However, even these papers are few in number.
Lebedeva et al. (1965) included carp muscle actomyosin as one of
four types of vertebrate skeletal muscle actomyosin (the others were
rabbit, pigeon, and frog proteins) on which they studied the effects of
pressures of 500-5000 atm. Their primary interest was in determining
whether or not across-the-board differences exist in the properties of this
important protein between ectothermous and endothermous animals.
Among other things, they found that adcnosinetriphosphabse ( ATF'ase )
activity of this protein was more sensitive to pressure in the ectotherm
preparations than it was in the endotherm samples. They concluded that
there appear to be differences between the two groups, and that carp
preparations, in particular, are not very resistant to high pressures.
Brown (1934-1935) studied pressure effects on isolated pectoral fin
muscles of red groupers, Epinephelus morio. This work was part of a
more extensive study of the mechanism of striated muscle contraction.
It is placed in its proper perspective in the review of Johnson et al.
( 1954).
Ebbecke (1935a) studied the effects of rapidly applied and released
short duration compressions up to 600 atm on the beating of isolated
hearts of cat sharks, ScylIium canicula. He did only a few experiments
with shark hearts, with results generally similar to those obtained in
much more extensive studies on isolated frog hearts. Pressure pulses
were able to stop the beating of active hearts or start u p inactive hearts.
Pressures to about 400 atm generally increased both the frequency and
the amplitude of the beat. Higher pressures produced irreversible damage to the preparations. Cattell (1936) and Johnson et al. (1954) put
this work into perspective in terms of understanding of mechanisms of
cardiac function.
Marsland (1944), as part of a series of studies on pressure effects
on protoplasmic movements within single cells, studied the effects of
pressures up to 500 atm on the melanophores of isolated scales of the
killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. He found that increased pressure inhibited the concentration of melanophore pigment, that this effect was
independent of the innervation of the cells, and that low temperature
(6OC) enhanced the effect while high temperature (30°C) reduced it.
Johnson et al. (1954) and Knight-Jones and Morgan (1966) discuss
these and related results.
The studies of Regnard (1885) and of Draper and Edwards (1932)