Swelling of Brain Slices and the Permeability of Brain Cells to Glucose

Summary

1. Brain slices swell considerably in salt solutions isotonic with serum and appreciably even in 4 times isotonic solutions. In serum the swelling is less marked.

2. Brain tissue behaves as if freely permeable to glucose, fructose and sucrose in the absence of electrolyte but, in the presence of small amounts of salt, these sugars behave as impermeable solutes.