OXYGEN AND LUMINESCENCE, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF METHODS FOR REMOVING OXYGEN FROM CELLS AND FLUIDS

Simple methods for completely removing oxygen from biological fluids are described and indicators for absence of oxygen discussed. Most luminous animals require free gaseous dissolved oxygen for luminescence but a few can luminesce without such oxygen. These are the Ctenophores; the medusa, Pelagia noctiluca and Radiolarians. Pennatulids require oxygen as do all annelida, ophiurians, cephalopoda, copepoda, and balanoglossids tested. It is found that in Beroë and Pelagia the photogenic granules (without cells) luminesce in absence of oxygen, and it is suggested that the proper amount of oxygen for luminescence is bound up in the photogenic granule, and cannot be removed by the drastic methods of oxygen-removal herein described.