Electrically-induced mechanical activity of the isolated guinea-pig sciatic nerve. Influences of calcium and anoxia.

The electrically-induced motility of isolated segments of guinea-pig sciatic nerves is reported. This motility was characterized by waves of tensional variations. The removal of Ca2+ from the suspending solution, the addition of EDTA as well as anoxia, resulted in a decrement of tension accompanied by a prolonged duration of the cycles of mechanical activity.