ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN THE DAILY RHYTHMIC ACTIVITY OF THE SEA-PEN, CAVERNULARIA OBESA VALENCIENNES

Abstract

Some efforts have been made in these experiments to see whether or not the fluctuation of hydrogen ion concentration of the body fluid can truly be a driving force of the rhythmic behavior, by injection of acidified sea water or changing of the metabolic rate by thermal treatments. The results are as folllows: (1)A phase-shift was induced by the injection of acidified sea water. (2)The temperature coefficients of oxygen-consumption and the period of rhythm were 2.53 and 1.00 respectively from 20 to 30℃. (3)The phase of rhythm was shifted by a sudden temperature change in a certain range. (4)Rarely, an active expanded state was omitted without a phase-shift. As far as the results obtained are concerned it seems difficult to attribute the rhythmic behavior definitely to the fluctuation of hydrogen ion concentration of the body fluid.