A device for the liberation and determination of 14CO2

A simple closed system for the serial determination of 14CO2 in small volumes of fluid samples, is described. The device consists of commercially available scintillation vials and silicone tube seals. 14CO2 is selectively liberated by citric acid and absorbed in a scintillation vial by Hyamine. Experiments on the effect of dichloroacetate on pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in rat hindlimbs perfused with [1-14C]pyruvate demonstrate the applicability of the method.