The action and interaction of calcium and alkali chlorides on eggs of Limnaea stagnalis and their chemical interpretation

1. 1. The action and interaction of CaCl 2 and alkali chlorides on eggs of Limnaea stagnalis have been studied. 2. 2. CaCl 2 antagonizes death caused by alkali chlorides. The number of normally developing embryos increases in all cases. 3. 3. Alkali chlorides antagonize death caused by CaCl 2. With NaCl, KCl and CsCl the number of normally developing embryos increases; with LiCl normal development is promoted only to a small extent, but instead many exogastrulae are found. 4. 4. The reciprocal antagonism between CaCl 2, on the one hand, and LiCl, NaCl, KCl and CsCl, respectively, on the other, with regard to normal and abnormal development or death gives rise to similar isothanates 50. 5. 5. The reciprocal antagonism between CaCl 2 and alkali chlorides can be explained by their influence on phosphatides. The phosphatides of the cell membrane are considered to be of primary importance in this context.