r a b b i t s . M. Oh g u r i (Tohoku J . E x p . Med., 1931, 17 , 390—411).— C om plete rem oval of th e cortico- ad ren a l system increases th e preform ed a n d to ta l, non-protein-, urea-, a n d uric acid -N of th e blood. T he Cl is decreased a n d th e serum -inorg. P increased.
Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s. A lle r g ic s k i n - t e s t s u b s ta n c e . F . S . Sm y t ii and K . Ba i n (J. Allergy, 1931, 2, 177— ISO).— On t r e a t m e n t of th e serum w ith s a tu ra te d (N H 4)2S 0 4 th e essential a n tib o d y fractio n is p p td . w ith th e globulins a n d is associated w ith th e pseudoglobulin. N on- essential lipoid substances m a y be elim inated b y prolonged storage of th e serum before tre a tm e n t w ith (N H 4)2S 0 4. Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s.
A lv e o la r c a r b o n d io x id e te n s io n , a lv e o la r c a r b o n d io x id e in d e x i n v o l u n t a r y a p n o e a , a n d v i t a l c a p a c ity i n p u l m o n a r y e m p h y s e m a a n d b r o n c h i a l a s t h m a . S. Ma n c a (Arch. F a rm , speriin., 1931, 53, 141— 165).— T he alveolar C 0 2 tension is no rm al in b o th conditions. T he alveolar C 0 2 index is elev ated in p u lm o n ary em physem a p ro p o rtio n a lly to th e e x te n t of th e lesions an d is of diagnostic val.
V ital cap acity is reduced considerably in em physem a a n d slig h tly in bronchial asth m a . R . K . Callow*.
D e c o m p o s itio n of th e le c ith in s of r i c e a n d i t s c o n n e x io n w i t h b e r i b e r i . S. Be l f a n t i (Arch.
Ita l. Biol., 1931, 85, 190— 207; Chem. Z en tr., 1931, ii, 2029).— Feeding w ith polished rice is associated w ith lack of enzym es, w hich is considered to be im p o rta n t in connexion w ith th e onset of avitam inosis.
P a rtic u la rly n o tew o rth y is th e lack of p hosphatase, w hich decom poses toxic lysocithins.
A. A. El d r i d g e. C a lc u lu s of th e to n s il. J . C iia b a u d a n d R . Lec oq(J. P h arm . Chim., 1932, [viii], 1 5 ,2 2 8 —230).—
T h e occurrence of a calculus (0-585 g.) com posed of Ca p h o sp h ate is described. H . W . Du d l e y.
C o llo id a l p h e n o m e n a i n g a ll- s to n e s . H . B.
We i s e ran d G. R . Gr a y (J. P h y sical Chem., 1932, 36, 2S6— 299).— R h y th m ic rings of C a-bile p ig m en t an d of Ag2C r0 4 w-ere o b tain ed in a m ass of cholesterol cry stals p p td . in th e presence of a sm all am o u n t of a hydrophilic colloid such as gelatin, album in, or fibrin.
T he concentric rings in gall-stones are a m an ifesta tio n of th e Liesegang phenom enon. C oncentric b an d s are n o t form ed in e ith e r n a tu ra l or sy n th e tic cholesterol stones in th e absence of hydrophilic colloids.
F . Sa u n d e r s (c).
R e c e n t b io c h e m ic a l r e s e a r c h i n c a n c e r -with s p e c ia l re f e r e n c e to th e m e t a b o l i s m of t h e n o r m a l a n d m a l i g n a n t c e ll. E . C. Do d d s (Amer. J . Cancer, 1931, 15, 2765— 2779).— D erangem ent of m etabolism of m alig n an t tissues is shown b y high glycolysis an d defect in re sp ira tio n ; th e la tte r is possibly m ore sp. th a n th e form er. The defect lias alm o st en tirely in th e carb o h y d ra te m etab o lism ; p ro b ab ly th e breaking u p of th e trio se is a t fa u lt.
D efinite grow th-prom oting substances sim ilar to th o se ob tain ed from th e a n te rio r p itu ita ry lobe are often p resen t in th e urino in cancer.
Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s. I n t r a c e l l u l a r h y d r o g e n - io n c o n c e n tr a tio n s tu d ie s . V. C o lo r im e tr ic p a o l m a l i g n a n t c e lls i n t i s s u e c u ltu r e . R . Ch a m b e r s an d R . J . Lu d
-EORD (Proc. R oy. Soc., 1932, B , 1 1 0 , 120— 124).—
T h e cy to p lasm of various tu m o u r cells grow n in tissu e cu ltu re has p a 6-4— 7-0, w h ilst th e nucleus has p a > 7 -2 . I n ju r y of th e cell accom panied b y cytolysis resu lts in th e cytoplasm becom ing m ore ac id a n d developing a p a < 5 -6 , w h ilst th e nucleus re ta in s a p u > 7 -2 .
W . 0 . Ke r m a c k. L ip in c o n te n t of h u m a n s e r u m i n c a n c e r o u s a n d c a n c e r -f r e e s u b je c ts . G. d e Vo ss (Z. physiol.
Chem., 1932, 2 0 5 , 20— 24).—The phospholipin, to ta l cholesterol, an d cholesteryl ester show ed average vals, of 150-5,152-2, a n d 75-7 m g., respectively, p e r 100 c.c.
fo r cancerous an d 178-7, 169-3, an d 92-1 m g. for cancel-free subjects. Only 5 of th e la tte r were h e a lth y ; th ese show ed higher lip in vals, th a n th e diseased cancer-free subjects. I n cases of cancer of liver a n d p ancreas higher vals, for phospholipin a n d to ta l cholesterol were observed.
J . H . Bi r k i n s h a w. F e r m e n t a t i o n - a c c e l e r a t i n g a c tio n o f t u m o u r e x t r a c t s a n d i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h R o s e n t h a l ’s a c t i v a t o r . G. Bo s t r o m (Biochem . Z., 1 9 3 2 , 2 45, S5— 101).— R a t ’s tu m o u r e x tra c ts increase th e a n a e r
obic lactic acid fe rm en ta tio n of th e liver of fed ra ts b y
4 0 0 % ( 8 2 7— 124% ). I n s ta rv in g r a ts th e a c tio n is sm all. P erfusion w ith physiological saline for 3 0 — 6 0 m in. before th e ex p erim en t decreases th e fe rm e n t
ing pow er by 3 5 % , a fe rm e n ta tio n a c tiv a to r being p ro b a b ly rem oved b y w ashing. 48 hr. a fte r su b cu tan eo u s in je ctio n of tu m o u r e x tra c t, th e liver re sp ira tio n is g re a tly decreased an d th e anaerobic an d aerobic lactic acid acid fe rm e n ta tio n increased.
P . W . Clt jt t e r b u c k. M i c r o - d e t e r m i n a t i o n of n i t r o g e n . I t s a p p l i c a t i o n i n t h e d i a g n o s is of c a n c e r . H . J . Fu c h s a n d M. v o n Fa l k e n h a u s e n (Biochem . Z., 1932, 2 4 5 , 304— 313).— A n a p p a ra tu s an d colorim etric m eth o d for th e m icro -d eterm in atio n of N are described.
W . McCa r t n e y. C o n te n t a n d a c tiv a tio n of u r i n a r y d i a s t a s e in c a n c e r a n d o t h e r d is e a s e s . E . Fr a n k e l, P . Ge r é b, a n d R . Sim k k (Biochem. Z., 1932, 2 4 5 , 44—
51).— A lthough th e re are no c h a ra c teristic differences in th e d iastase of th e u rin e in these diseases, i t w as found th a t th e la tte r freq u e n tly co n tain ed a su b stan ce w hich a c tiv a te d d iastase. T he a c tiv a to r is in a c tiv a te d above 45°, is ac tiv e betw een p n 4-0 a n d 7-5, is adsorbed b y kaolin, b u t is n o t elu ted therefrom b y p h o sp h ate. P . W . Cl u t t e r b u c k.
E n z y m e s of c h ic k e n s a r c o m a . E . So m e k a w a
(Sci. P ap e rs In s t. P h y s. Chem. R es. Tokyo, 1 9 3 2 ,1 8 , 23— 36).— A n aq. e x tra c t of R ous sarcom a showed slig h tly g reater a n d m ore v arie d enzym e a c tiv ity th a n d id a m uscle e x tra c t. A. Co h e n.
P r o t e i n s of h u m a n s e r u m . D i s t r i b u t i o n of p r o t e i n i n n o r m a l a n d p a th o lo g ic a l s e r a . D i
a g n o s i s of t u b e r c u l o s i s a n d c a n c e r . A. Sc h m itz
a n d F . Wu l k o v (Biochem. Z., 1932, 2 4 5 , 408— 417).
—F o r th e se p a ra tio n of globulins from alb u m in s in serum -proteins p p tn . w ith (N H ,)2S 0 4 m a y be used, b u t for fu rth e r fra c tio n a tio n o th er m ethods m u st be applied. T he procedure of G oldschm idt a n d K a h n (A., 1929, 951) gives u n sa tisfa c to ry resu lts. If dil.
solutions of serum (1 c.c.) are ad d ed to series of
(N H 4)2S 0 4 solutions (sa tu ra tio n ran g in g from 5 to 100% ) a n d th e degrees of tu r b id ity produced (mea
sured w ith a step photom eter) are p lo tte d ag ain st the concn. of (N H 4)2S 0 4 w hich causes th em , curves te rm e d “ p ro te in sp ectra ” a re o b tain ed . I n these curves one p o rtio n rep resen ts th e globulins and a n o th e r th e album ins. Sera from h e a lth y persons alw ays gives th e sam e ty p e of curve a n d hence always con tain s th e sam e ty p o of p ro te in m ol. a n d neither co nsum ption of large am o u n ts of f a t no r ad d itio n of N a glycocholate to th e serum h as a n y effect on the
“ sp e c tra .” I n pathological sera of all k in d s varia
tio n s, from w hich no conclusions can be reached, ap p e a r in th e globulin p o rtio n s of th e curves. The alb u m in p o rtio n s, how ever, a re alw ays sim ila r except in tuberculosis a n d cancer (and also, to somo extent, in cirrhosis of th e liver). T his finding ap p lied to the diagnosis of th e tw o first-nam ed diseases yielded correct resu lts in 96% of th e cases exam ined.
W . McCa r t n e y. C a ta b o lis m of f a t s d i r e c t l y in t r o d u c e d in to the a n i m a l b o d y . B a s a l m e t a b o l i s m of p a n c re a s- d ia b e tic a n i m a l s fo llo w in g t h e in f u s io n of fat.
T. Ba b a (Tohoku J . E x p . M ed., 1931, 17, 274— 292).
— In tra v e n o u s in jectio n of a f a t em ulsion in to diabetic dogs causes th e R .Q . to fall below 0-707. W ith animals in w hich th e p ancreas h a d been incom pletely resected th e R .Q . fell to a val. above 0-707.
Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s. D i s t r i b u t i o n o f p h o s p h o r u s c o m p o u n d s and c a lc iu m i n t h e b lo o d of c h ild r e n . M. Sokolo-
v it c h (Arch. D is. Childhood, 1931, 6, 183— 208).—
T he blood-P of ch ild ren te n d s to bo h igher and to show g re a te r v a ria tio n th a n t h a t of ad u lts. Changes in th e p a r titio n of P are found in n e p h ritis, diabetes m ellitus, a n d in fa n tile te ta n y , b u t th e to ta l P content is n o t increased. T he serum -Ca of ch ild ren is normal in d iab etes a n d slig h tly increased in nep h ritis.
Ch e m ic a l Abst r a c t s. C lin ic a l c a l o r i m e t r y . X L V III. N itro g e n e q u i l i b r i u m w i t h a lo w - p r o te in d ie t. W. S.
McLe l l a n an d R . R . Ha n n o n (J. Biol. Chem., 1932, 95, 327— 333).— A p a tie n t w ith d ia b e tu s m ellitus was fed on a d ie t co n tain in g 20 g. of p ro te in p er day, and h a v in g a n energy val. of 50% above th e b asal heat o u tp u t. N equilibrium w as established during the la s t m o n th of th e p eriod of o b serv atio n (106 days), an d w t. eq u ilib riu m d u rin g th e whole p erio d without a n y ill effects from th e low p ro te in level of the diet.
A decrease in th e carb o h y d ra te c o n te n t of th e diet produced ex cretio n of ketonic sub stan ces, b u t no increase in b o d y -p ro tein m etabolism . A low record of 1-78 g. of N p e r d a y ex creted in th e urine was
reached. A. La w s o n.
T o x ic f r a c t i o n i n c e r t a i n e c z e m a s e r a . F. S.
S m y t h (J. A llergy, 1931, 2, 1 7 3— 1 7 6 ).—T oxicity is n o t due to allergens o r to a lte ra tio n of th e colloidal p ro p erties b y h e a t or c o ld ; th e effect resem bles th a t of th e “ histam ine-like ” su b stan ce described by Lew-is a n d H arm er. C h e m ic a l A b s t r a c t s .
E s s e n t i a l f a t t y a c id s a n d g o itr e - p r o d u c in g s u b s t a n c e s . F . E . Ch id e s t e r (Science, 1932, 75, 106).— A discussion in w hich th e im p o rtan ce of the I - f a t balance is em phasised. L. S. Th e o b a l d.
B IO C H E M IS T R Y . 419
Iodine q u e s tio n i n L e t t l a n d i n r e l a t i o n to goitre. J . Ku pzis (Z. H yg., 1 9 3 2 ,1 1 3 , 551— 573).—
The I co n ten t of in lan d soils is largely d ep en d en t on the ease of leaching a n d on th e fertilisers (n o tab ly animal m anures) used. T he prevalence of g o itre is in no way associated w ith th e a m o u n ts of Ca, Mg, Fo, or org. m atter p re se n t in d rin k in g -H 20 .
“A. G. Po l l a r d. R an g e of e ffe c tiv e io d in e d o s a g e i n e x o p h th a lm ic g o i t r e . TV. E f f e c t o n b a s a l m e t a b o l i s m of d aily d o s e of a b o u t 0 -7 5 m g . W . 0 . Th o m p s o n, P. K. Th o m p s o n, a n d A. C. Co h e n (Arch. I n t . Med., 1932, 4 9 , 199— 214).— T he percentage app ro ach of basal m etabolism to th e n o rm al in cases of ex o p h thalmic goitre is p ro p o rtio n al to th e dose of I a n d to the am ount of I in th e th y ro id available for th e storage of colloid, betw een th e lim its of dosage 0-75—6 mg. A c e rta in m in. d aily dose of I produces
a max. effect. H . Da v s o n.
T h io c y a n a te t h e r a p y i n h y p e r te n s io n . I . I t s toxic e ffe c ts . W . Go l d r in g an d H . Ch a s is (Arch.
Int. Med., 1932, 4 9 , 321— 329).— Toxic m a n ife sta tions occur in d ep en d en tly of th e a m o u n t of drug administered, th e re being, in som e cases, no m argin of safety betw een th e toxic a n d th e ra p e u tic doses.
H . Da v s o n. E ffect of i n s u l i n t h e r a p y o n p a n c r e a t i c e n z y m e s in m a ln u tr itio n . C. W . Lu e d e r s a n d M. E . Wa t
son(Arch. I n t. Med., 1932, 4 9 , 330—342).—A nalysis of the p an creatic secretions a n d th e bile salts, to g e th er with studies of th e stool, before a n d a fte r doses of 40 units of insulin show ed a n increase in p an creatic enzymes, im p ro v em en t in th e fu n c tio n of th e biliary tract, an d a m ore com plete digestion a n d assim ilation of food following th e dose. H . Da v s o n.
C a lc iu m a n d p h o s p h o r u s m e t a b o l i s m in n e p h ritis. F . J . Fo r d (Arch. Dis. Childhood, 1 9 3 1 ,
6, 2 0 9—2 3 0 ) .— R e te n tio n of Ca a n d P is approx.
normal; excretion ten d s to b e d iv e rte d from th e urine to th e freces. C h e m ic a l A b s t r a c t s .
P la s m a - p r o te in s a n d o e d e m a i n c h ild r e n p r e senting n e p h r o tic s y n d r o m e . J . K . Ca l v i n and A. H. Go l d b e r g (Amer. J . Dis. C hildren, 1931, 42, 314—327).— A m ark ed decrease in serum -album in is usually associated w ith th e oedema of th e n ephrotic syndrome. T he globulin c o n te n t is only slig h tly decreased, or m a y be increased sufficiently to reverse the album in : globulin ra tio .
Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s. Iro n -d e fic ie n c y h y p o th e s is i n p e l l a g r a . S.
Buss (Science, 1932, 75, 266).— C ritical (cf. H alliday, ibid., 1931, 74, 1931). L. S. Th e o b a l d.
R e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n c a lc iu m a n d p o t a s s i u m balance a n d r h e u m a t i s m a g e n t s . I . R e la tio n ship b e tw e e n u r i c a c id c o n te n t a n d c a lc iu m a n d p o ta ssiu m in s e r u m b y t h e u s e of n a r c o t i c s . K. I n (Folia P h arm aco l. Ja p o n ., 1931, 12, No. 3, 406—416).— H y p n o tics, b u t n o t m orphine, d istu rb the ionic balance in rh e u m atic tissu e ; th e serum - Ca is decreased (often increased b y m orphine) a n d the -K increased. Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s.
E x p e r im e n ta l s c u r v y . X I . G lu ta th io n e c o n tent of ti s s u e s of g u in e a p ig s fe d o n v i t a m i n C
-f r e e d ie t. R . Sato a n d S. Oh a t o (J. Biochem . J a p a n , 1931, 1 4 , 325— 329).— S lig h t increases occur in th e suprarenals an d sk eletal m uscle, b u t no change is d ete ctab le in th e liver, kidneys, lungs, h e a rt, spleen, a n d testicles. F . O. Ho w it t.
S c u r v y a n d th e p o t a s s i u m a n d s o d i u m c o n te n t of th e u r i n e a n d th e b lo o d . L. Ra n d o i n a n d A.
Mi c h a u x (Compt. rend., 1932, 1 9 4 , 5 6 5 — 5 6 7 ).—
D uring th e course of scu rv y in guinea-pigs fed on a d ie t containing 1% NaCl, th e vol. of u rin e dim inishes v ery g reatly , th e N a a n d K c o n te n t decreasing p ro p o rtio n ate ly . T he N a c o n ten t of th e blood-serum a n d to ta l blood increases slightly. T he K c o n te n t of th e serum dim inishes, b u t, unlike t h a t of th e controls, is g re a te r th a n t h a t of th e to ta l blood, th is being d ue to a decrease in th e no. of red blood-cells caused b y th e scurvy. A. La w s o n.
S o d iu m a n d p o t a s s i u m c o n te n t of m u s c le s d u r i n g t h e d e v e lo p m e n t of s c u r v y . L. Ra n d o i n
a n d A. Mi c h a u x (Com pt. ren d ., 1932, 1 9 4 , 647—
650).— I n guinea-pigs on a d ie t containing no v itam in-C, th e c o n te n t of N a in th e m uscles increases w hilst t h a t of K decreases as scu rv y develops. F rom previous w ork on th e re te n tio n of Cl' (A., 1931, 383), i t is concluded t h a t th e N a is re ta in e d as NaCl.
A. La w s o n. C o m p o u n d of ta u r o c h o lic a c id w i t h g u a ia c o l.
D . Ga n a s s i n i (Arch. 1st. Biochim . I ta l., 1932, 4 , 3— 8).— Guaiacol taurocholate, OMe'CGH 4'C20H 44O7NS, m . p. 110°, is to lerated by th e h u m an organism , has no ir r ita n t effect on th e sto m ach or kidneys, and ap p ears to be of val. in tre a tin g chronic tu b ercu lar em pyem a of th e lungs. T. H . Po p e.
E m b r y o n ic m e t a b o l i s m . V I. T h e a m in o - a c id s of th e y o lk , w h ite , e m b r y o , a n d s h e ll m e m b r a n e s d u r i n g d e v e lo p m e n t of t h e h e n ’s e g g . H . O. Ca l v e r y (J. Biol. Chem., 1932, 9 5 , 297—300).
— I n th e developing egg, ty ro sin e decreases, w h ilst try p to p h a n an d cy stin e increase in th e em bryo, b u t all th re e rem ain const, in th e w hite, yolk, an d shell m em brane. A rginine an d lysine rem ain const., w hilst histidine decreases in all fractions except th e shell m em brane, w hich is unaffected by th e developm ent
of th e em bryo. A. La w s o n.
S u r v iv a l of e m b r y o n ic t i s s u e s of th e h e n in R i n g e r 's s o lu tio n a t lo w t e m p e r a t u r e s . L.
Bu c c ia n t e (A tti R . Accad. Lincei, 1931, [vi], 1 4 , 356— 361).— T he survival a t 5— 10° varies w ith th e different tissues. T here is a progressive rem oval of tro p h ic substances, w hich diffuse from th e cells in to th e liquid. T he ad d itio n of em bryo juice is alm o st indispensable for th e cu ltu re of th e w ashed tissues in R in g er’s so lu tio n ; in a .c u ltu r e m edium resulting from plasm a alone, th e tissues grow either n o t a t all or only to a slight e x ten t. T. H . Po p e.
T r u e m e ta b o lic r a t e of t h e c h ic k e m b r y o a n d t h e r e s p i r a t i o n of i t s m e m b r a n e s . J . Ne e d h a m
(Proc. R oy. Soc., 1932, B , 1 1 0 , 46— 74).— T he yolk- sac of th e h en ’s egg steadily absorbs 320 cu. m m . 0 2 per g. p er hr. from th e 3rd to th e 15th d a y of developm ent a n d th e n th e ra te of resp iratio n decreases, reaching a b o u t 60% of th e above val. a t th e tim e of h atch in g . T he resp iratio n ra te of th e allantois rises from 100
cu. m m . 0 2 p e r g. p e r hr. on th e 6 th d a y to a m ax. of 390 cu. m m . on th e 13th d ay, a n d th e n falls to a b o u t 250 a t th e tim e of h a tch in g . T he re sp ira to ry r a te of th e em bryo a s calcu lated b y su b tra c tin g th e 0 2 consum p
tio n of th e ex tra-em b ry o n ic m em branes from t h a t of th e in ta c t egg falls from 1200 cu. m m . 0 2 p e r g. p e r h r.
on th e 6 th d a y to 800 cu. m m . on th e 19th, th e m ax.
r a te occurring before th e 6 th a n d p ro b a b ly on th e
5 th d a y . W . 0 . Ke r m a c k.
In flu e n c e of c h e m ic a l c o m p o s itio n o n t i s s u e r e s p i r a t i o n . T. Do x i a d e s (Biochem . Z., 1932, 245, 52— 60).—T h e O, u tilisa tio n , C 0 2 p ro d u ctio n , R .Q ., a n d th e p ro te in ," fa t, a n d carb o h y d rate co n ten ts of slices of r a t ’s liver a re determ ined. T h e 0 2 con
su m p tio n increases w ith increasing p ro te in a n d d e creasing f a t c o n te n t of th e tissues.
P . W . Cl u t t e r b u c k. E f f e c t of a m in o - a c id s o n r e s p i r a t i o n of t i s s u e s . IV . S e r in e , v a lin e , s a r c o s in e , /s o le u c in e , a n d p h e n y lg ly c in e . B. Kis c h (Biochem . Z., 1932, 2 4 4 , 451—4 5 8 ; ef. th is vol., 82).— W ith reg ard to th e ir effect on th e re sp ira tio n of th e liver a n d kid n ey tissue, serine, valine, sarcosine, a n d phenylglycine resem ble th e N H 2-acids previously exam ined a n d fsoleucine resem bles leucine, b u t is som ew hat less active. T h e effect of th e acids is g re a te r on old th a n on fresh tis s u e ; th e difference betw een th e tw o kinds of tissue is slig h t. T he [H '] o f th e n u tr ie n t m edium h a s th e sam e effect as w ith th e acids first exam ined.
W . McCa r t n e y. E f f e c t of a m in o - a c id s o n r e s p i r a t i o n of r e t i n a l t i s s u e . B . Ki s c h (Biochem . Z., 1932, 2 4 4 , 459—
463).— T he resp iratio n of fresh re tin a (pig, ox, dog, a n d o th e r species) is increased, in som e cases v e ry g reatly , b y glycine, phenylglycine, valine, leucine, serine, sarcosine, alanine, a n d p h enylalanine a n d in th e case of th e old tissuo th e increase is g reater. R e tin a l tissue differs from k id n ey tissue in th a t w ith th e form er th e effects of alanine a n d phenylalanine are less, those of serine, valine, an d sarcosine m ore, pronounced th a n w ith th e la tte r. W . McCa r t n e y.
S a lin ity of th e m e d i u m a n d i t s e ffe c t o n r e s p i r a tio n i n t h e s e a a n e m o n e . C. S . Sh o u p (Ecology, 19 3 2 ,1 3 , S I— 85).— V ariations in th e s a lt concn. of th e m edium on e ith er side of th e norm al concn. of sea
w ater decrease resp iratio n in M etridium 'marginatum.
I n single-salt m edia, N a, Ca, a n d K salts hav e a pronounced effect. A. G. Po l l a r d.
E m i s s i o n of o x y g e n b y th e p e lv ic f il a m e n t s o f th e m a l e L e p i d o s i r e n w i t h s o m e e x p e r i m e n t s o n S y m b r a n c h u s n i a r m o r a t u s . J . T. C u n n i n g h a m a n d D . M. R e i d (Proc. R oy. Soc., 1932, B , 110, 234— 248).—W heh Lepidosiren is placed in H 20 w ith a v ery low c o n te n t of dissolved 0 2, th e dissolved 0 2 (determ ined b y W in k ler’s m ethod) decreases if th e specim en is a fem ale or a m ale w ith undeveloped pelvic filam ents, b u t definitely increases in th e case of a m ale w ith w ell-developed filam ents. T he decrease is p ro b ab ly d ue in p a r t a t le ast to th e m ucus in tr o duced w ith th e fish. T h e re su lts in d icate t h a t th e developed pelvic filam ents of th e m ale Lepidosiren excrete 0 2 in to th e H 30 p ro b a b ly to o x y genate th e fertilised eggs. W . O. K e r m a c k .
N a t u r e of m e ta b o lic r e g u l a t i o n of b o d y tem p e r a t u r e a n d i t s r e l a t i o n to t e m p e r a t u r e sensa
t i o n s . J . M. O ’Co n n o r (Proc. R oy. Iris h Acad,, 1932,4 0 B , 175— 193).— I n non-shivering rab b its under u re th a n e anaesthesia 0 2 consum ption is correlated w ith re c ta l tem p . S ta tistic a l analysis of d a ta shows th a t th e e x tra 0 2 consum ption during shivering is in d ep en d en t of head tem p , b u t is m ax. a t a skin te m p , of 28°, falling to zero a t 35° an d a t 23°. Cold sensation in th e h u m a n forearm is abolished a t about 21°. H ence chem ical tem p, reg u latio n is probably a reflex response to cold stim u li from th e skin.
J . B. Batem an. M e ta b o lis m of c o ld -b lo o d e d a n i m a l s . D.
Go u l s t o n (J. P roc. R oy. Soc. N ew S o u th Wales, 1931, 65, 51— 58).— M easurem ents on th e 0 2 ab
so rp tio n a n d C 0 2 ex p iratio n of a restin g frog show that its m etabolic ra te falls continuously d u rin g starvation.
N . H . Ha r t s h o r n e, B a s a l m e t a b o l i s m of A u s t r a l i a n merino s b e e p . E . W . Li n e san d A. W . Pe ir c e (B ull. Counc.
Sci. In d . R es. A u stral., 1931, No. 55, 34 pp.).—The effects of different d iets a n d th e d u ra tio n of fasting on th e R .Q . an d basal m etabolism of ewes are studied.
T he conditions for sta n d a rd b asal m etabolism deter
m inations are defined. A relatio n betw een body-wt.
an d skin-area is obtained. H . Davson. F a s t i n g m e t a b o l i s m of c a t t l e . E . B. Forbes, W . W . Br a m a n, M. Kr i s s, an d R . W . Sw if t (J. Agric- R es., 1931, 4 3 , 1003— 1014).— C onditions for the d e te rm in atio n of sta n d a rd b asal m etabolism are defined. N o const, val. is o b tain ed w ith tw o steers
fastin g for 6 days. H . Davson.
B a s a l m e t a b o l i s m . I . E r r o r of b a s a l meta
b o l i s m d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d n o r m a l ra n g e of b a s a l m e t a b o l i s m . I I . B a s a l p u ls e complex.
R . L. Je n k i n s (Arch. I n t. Med., 1932, 4 9 , 181—187, 188— 198).
C a r b o n d io x id e d is s o c ia tio n c u r v e of living m a m m a l i a n m u s c l e . L . Ir v i n g, H . C. Fo ste r, and J . K . W . Fe r g u s o n (J. Biol. Chem., 1932, 95, Ga
l l 3).— T he C 0 2 co n te n t a n d tension (the la tte r assumed eq u a l to th e C 0 2 tension of th e venous blood leaving th e muscle) of th e gastrocnem ius m uscles of the dog were d eterm ined for n o rm al a n d over-ventilation and fo r v e n tilatio n w ith a C 0 2-rich m ix tu re a fte r removal of th e first m uscle. T he C 0 2 dissociation curve is expressed b y th e eq u atio n C 0 2 (c.c. p e r 100 g.)-' 3 -4 V p C 0 2, w here p C 0 2 is th e tension in m m . of Hg.
T his curve is used for th e co n stru ctio n of a combining- pow er curve, th e solubility coeff. being assum ed to be 0-41. Also, accepting th e p K \ v a l. as equal to that of serum , i.e., 6-07 (A., 1928, 150), a n d applying the H en d erso n -H asselb alch equ atio n , th e reaction of the restin g m uscle is p a 6-9— 7-0 fo r C 0 2 tensions of 50—
60 m m ., w hilst th e buffering pow er is determ ined and resolved in to its com ponents. F . O. Howitt.
T b e c o u p le d n a t u r e of l a c tic a c id glycogen s y n t h e s i s i n m u s c le . D . Bu r k (J. P hysical Chem., 1932, 3 6 , 268— 272).— T he th e o ry (cf. Bancroft and B ancroft, A ., 1931, 513) t h a t glycogen m ay be synthesised in m uscle from lactic acid according to a freely reversible sh ift in th e equilibrium p oint (caused
B IO C H E M IS T R Y . 421
by adsorption of glycogen on protein) is q u a n tita tiv e ly
inconsistent. C. T. Sn e l l (6).
A m o u n t of la c tic a n d o t h e r e th e r - s o lu b le a c id s in b lo o d a n d o r g a n s a t r e s t , a f t e r m u s c u l a r w o r k , and w h e n s u p p lie d w i t h r e d u c e d a m o u n t s of oxygen. S. L. Gr s k o v (Biochem . Z., 1932, 245, 239—251; cf. A ., 1930, 801).— T he m ethod fo r th e determ ination of lactic a n d o th er E t 20-sol. acids in blood can also be applied to tissues (liver, kidney, muscle). T he lactic acid co n te n t of organs increases during ex tirp atio n . T he blood, liver, a n d kidneys of cats and ra b b its co n tain approx. equal am o u n ts of lactic acid, b u t th e re is m uch m ore of i t in th e muscles, possibly because p ro d u ctio n ta k e s place du rin g extirpation. M uscular w ork results in increase, in organs a n d in blood, of b o th lactic a n d th e o th er acids.
The la tte r disappear from th e blood som etim es m ore, sometimes less, quickly th a n does lactic acid. I n frog muscle also m uscular w ork leads to increase in th e
The la tte r disappear from th e blood som etim es m ore, sometimes less, quickly th a n does lactic acid. I n frog muscle also m uscular w ork leads to increase in th e