LUMIMESCENCE IN PELAGIA NOCTILUCA

1. Ca and K condition the irritability of Pelagia both in regard to rhythmical contractions and general luminescence. If either ion is omitted from the solution conduction of stimuli for pulsations and luminescence does not occur, although local responses still persist. 2. When Mg is omitted from the solution, Pelagia shows hyper-irritability with respect to rhythmical contraction and general luminescence. This is referable to the unantagonized action of K and Ca ions. 3. Exposure to the carbon arc suppresses general luminescence, the effect depending upon the quantity of light i.e. intensity x time of exposure. 4. The luminescent material secreted by Pelagia is inactive in sea water, but when put into salt solutions is activated by some of them. The efficiency of the salts, measured by brightness of light, is in the following order: MgSO₄, K₂SO₄, Na₃ citrate, KCl, BaCl₂, SrCl₂, CaCl₂, and LiCl while NaCl and MgCl₂ act as inhibitors. 5. Acidity inhibits the reaction, alkalinity promotes it. NH₄OH in concentrations 0.27 N to 0.9 N causes luminescence for 10 minutes at 20°. 6. The average temperature coefficient for the reaction of the luminescent substance when activated by ammonia or MgSO₄ is 2.18 for a temperature interval of 10°C. 7. The luminescence reaction cannot be the result of cytolysis, because (a) raising the temperature of sea water in which luminous material is immersed does not cause luminescence, although sufficient to produce cytolysis. (b) The salt solutions used in our experiments to cause luminescence, do not act cytolytically on cells in general.