Answer
The previous experiment, which involved the stimulation of the vagus nerves and the subsequent slowing of the frog's heart rate, strongly suggests that something released by the vagus nerves is responsible for this effect. However, it does not conclusively prove the involvement of a specific substance. To rule out alternative explanations and provide more conclusive evidence, Loewi could perform a control experiment known as a "deglutinated heart" experiment.
In a deglutinated heart experiment, Loewi would take another frog's heart and remove or neutralize the substance or factor that was released by the vagus nerves. This would involve deglutinating (removing or neutralizing) the potential neurotransmitter or chemical mediator responsible for slowing the heart rate. The steps for such an experiment might include:
1. **Isolate a Frog Heart:** Obtain a fresh frog heart and prepare it for experimentation, ensuring it is still functional.
2. **Deglutination:** This step involves treating the heart or the experimental setup in a way that removes or neutralizes the substance released by the vagus nerves. Loewi would need to identify and neutralize the suspected neurotransmitter. In this case, acetylcholine was later identified as the neurotransmitter released by vagus nerves to slow the heart rate. Loewi could potentially use chemicals or enzymes to neutralize acetylcholine or remove it from the experimental setup.
3. **Stimulation of Vagus Nerves:** After ensuring that the potential neurotransmitter has been neutralized or removed, Loewi would then stimulate the vagus nerves and observe the heart rate response in the isolated heart. If the heart rate still slows down significantly, it would indicate that the substance neutralization was successful, and the effect is no longer present. This would rule out the involvement of that specific substance in the observed effect.
4. **Control for Other Factors:** Loewi would also need to control for other factors and ensure that no unintended changes or effects are influencing the heart rate.
By performing this deglutinated heart control experiment, Loewi could provide stronger evidence that the slowing of the heart rate is indeed due to a substance released by the vagus nerves. If the heart rate still slows down after deglutination, it would suggest the involvement of another factor or substance, and further investigation would be needed to identify it.
Work Step by Step
The previous experiment, which involved the stimulation of the vagus nerves and the subsequent slowing of the frog's heart rate, strongly suggests that something released by the vagus nerves is responsible for this effect. However, it does not conclusively prove the involvement of a specific substance. To rule out alternative explanations and provide more conclusive evidence, Loewi could perform a control experiment known as a "deglutinated heart" experiment.
In a deglutinated heart experiment, Loewi would take another frog's heart and remove or neutralize the substance or factor that was released by the vagus nerves. This would involve deglutinating (removing or neutralizing) the potential neurotransmitter or chemical mediator responsible for slowing the heart rate. The steps for such an experiment might include:
1. **Isolate a Frog Heart:** Obtain a fresh frog heart and prepare it for experimentation, ensuring it is still functional.
2. **Deglutination:** This step involves treating the heart or the experimental setup in a way that removes or neutralizes the substance released by the vagus nerves. Loewi would need to identify and neutralize the suspected neurotransmitter. In this case, acetylcholine was later identified as the neurotransmitter released by vagus nerves to slow the heart rate. Loewi could potentially use chemicals or enzymes to neutralize acetylcholine or remove it from the experimental setup.
3. **Stimulation of Vagus Nerves:** After ensuring that the potential neurotransmitter has been neutralized or removed, Loewi would then stimulate the vagus nerves and observe the heart rate response in the isolated heart. If the heart rate still slows down significantly, it would indicate that the substance neutralization was successful, and the effect is no longer present. This would rule out the involvement of that specific substance in the observed effect.
4. **Control for Other Factors:** Loewi would also need to control for other factors and ensure that no unintended changes or effects are influencing the heart rate.
By performing this deglutinated heart control experiment, Loewi could provide stronger evidence that the slowing of the heart rate is indeed due to a substance released by the vagus nerves. If the heart rate still slows down after deglutination, it would suggest the involvement of another factor or substance, and further investigation would be needed to identify it.
