Abstract
(1) Effects of glutamate and its metabolite on the respiration of isolated outersegments of rods were studied by means of the Warburg apparatus at26°C. The outersegments were separated from dark adapted toad's retina.
(2) l-sodium glutamate had a powerful effect on the respiration in both dark and light conditions.
(3) In the dark condition, l-sodium aspartate showed a remarkable depressive effect on respiration. l-asparagine and r-aminobutyric acid had a similar, but weaker, effect.
(4) NH4 ion markedly inhibited the effect of illumination on the respiration of outersegments of rods.α-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid showed a similar effect. But their effect was weaker than NH4 ion.
(5) A hypothesis on the matabolic cycle in the outersegments of rods was advanced.
