The influence of high hydrostatic pressure on cocaine and veratrine action in a vertebrate nerve.

The application of high hydrostatic pressure to toad sciatic nerve causes a gain in sodium and a loss of potassium which are not affected by cocaine. However, cocaine action is enhanced by high pressure when counteracting veratrine depolarization and when blocking the action potential. Various effects of elevated pressure on the after-potentials are presented and the role of ions in these processes is discussed.