Effects of salicylic and acetylsalicylic acid on inorganic phosphates and impulse conduction in mammalian nerve fibres.

Abstract

Salicylic acid at therapeutic, and acetylsalicylic acid at higher concentrations, applied to desheathed rabbit vagus nerves in vitro, were found to increase the content in inorganic phosphates and to block conduction in both B-and C-fibres. The block developed slowly during incubation and was probably caused by an inhibitory effect on oxidative phosphorylation. Measurements of the salicylic acid content of the acetylsalicylic acid solution suggest that the action of acetylsalicylic acid was due to salicylic acid formed by hydrolysis.