R o c h e (Pharm. Ztg., 1927, 7 2 , 1263).—A claim of priority as the first to suggest the use of sodium salicylsulphonate as a test for protein in urine.
P. W. Cl u t t e r b u c k. Determination of quinine [in u rine] b y H art
mann and Z ila ’s m eth od . I . A . Sm o r o d in c e v
A. N. Ad o v a (Biochem. Z., 1927, 188, 279—
¿oá). This method (A ., 1918, i, 328) does not give
accurate results and possesses no advantage over the simple extraction with ether.
P . W . Cl u t t e r b u c k. P roteases of urine. II. P roteolytic action of urine in protracted starvation and w ith e x p eri
m entally increased protein catabolism . 0 . Pec ze n ik (Fermentforsch., 1927, 9, 166— 191; cf.
A., 1926, 1275).— After prolonged starvation the urine of the rat, guinea-pig, and cat has a proteolytic action which varies with tho type of food administered before the fast. Rats which are starved after a long meat diet- give a urine which has strong peptic and tryptic activities, and the protein usage, as deter
mined by the total nitrogen of the urine, is much higher than with rats which are starved after a milk diet. After injection of protein (caseinogen and milk), during prolonged starvation, and under experi
mental influences which lead to an increased cell disintegration, protein derivatives pass into the circulation and cause secretion of pepsinogen.
A . Wo r m a l l. D istribution of protein in b lo o d in experi
m ental anaemia. M. Bo d a n s k y, S. W . Mo rse, V. C. Kie c h, and R. B . Bra m k a m p (J. Biol. Chem., 1927, 74, 463— 471).— Figures are given for the distribution of the various protein fractions in dogs’
blood-serum, classified by the method of Howe (A., 1922, ii, 172). More than half of the protein obtained from the red blood-corpuscles by haemolysis can be salted out within the limits of precipitation of tho globulins. In anaemia induced by administration of acetylphenylhydrazine, the albumin : globulin ratio of the serum decreased, whilst tho content of fibrinogen, euglobulin, and tho protein fraction pre- cipitable by 0-75J/-sodium sulphate increased.
C. R. Ha r in g t o n. P ernicious anaemia. III. Contrast of the chloride contents of corpu scles and plasm a in pernicious anaemia and other conditions. A. T.
Cam ebo n and M. E. Fo ster (Canad. Med. Assoc. J., 1927, 1 7 , 670— 675).— The plasma-chlorine values in the anaemias are normal; cell-chlorine values in pernicious anaemia are low, but in secondary anaemia are high. Both plasma- and cell-chlorine values are low in diabetes and other conditions where increase of blood constituents requires osmotic compensation, and in acute intestinal obstruction.
Ch em ica l Ab st r a c t s. G lycolysis in leucaemic b lood. H . L . Schmitz. and E. C. Gl o v e r (J. Biol. Chem., 1927, 7 4 , 761—
773).— In normal blood the rate of glycolysis is 15-—
23 mg. % per hr. and is independent of the initial concentration of dextrose. In cases of myelogenous leucaemia rates of glycolysis of 18— 84 mg. % per hr.
were observed, with an approximate parallelism between the rate of glycolysis and the leucocyte count. In lymphatic leucaemia, tho rate was not increased. Addition of potassium cyanide to the blood accelerates glycolysis markedly in myelogenous leucaemia and slightly in lymphatic leucaemia, but is almost without effect in normal blood.
C. R. Ha r in g t o n. Cerebral and cardiac gly cog en and m u scu la r lactic acid in adrenalectom ised rats. B. A.
Ho u ssay and P . Mazzocco (Rev. Soc. Argentina
1106 BRITISH CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS.----A.
Biol., 1927,3, 491— 500).— Extirpation of the adrenals in rats is without marked effect on cardiac and cerebral glycogen or on muscular lactic acid and lactacidogen. The increase in muscular lactic acid after 1 min. tetanisation is greater than in the controls.
The excess of lactic acid disappears within 5 min., slightly more rapidly in the rats deprived of their adrenals than in the controls.
G. W . Ro b in s o n. Fate of su g a r in the an im al b od y . VII.
C arboh ydrate m e ta b o lism o f a dren alectom ised ra ts and m ice . C. F. Coriand G. T. Cori (J. Biol.
Chem., 1927, 74, 473— 494).— In adrenalectomised rats, a starvation period of 24 hrs. caused almost complete disappearance of glycogen from the liver and a marked fall in the blood-sugar, the glycogen of the muscles remaining unchanged. Administration of dextrose to such animals resulted in normal synthesis of glycogen, although the rate of absorption of the dextrose was slower than in the normal animal.
The relationship between dextrose oxidised and con
verted into glycogen after administration of dextrose to adrenalectomised rats with and without insulin was similar to that previously observed for normal rats (A., 1926, 1271); further, the effect of insulin in decreasing the liver-glycogen of normal fasting mice was observed also in adrenalectomised mice.
These effects of insulin are therefore to be regarded as specific to this hormone and are independent of the effect of adrenaline. C. R. H a r i n g t o n .
C a lciu m m e ta b o lism in diabetes. E. Ky l i n
(Acta Med. Scand., 1927, 66, 197— 206).— In diabetes of pancreatic origin the blood-calcium is high, falling after injection of insulin with elimination in the
urine. Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s. A c id p ro d u ctio n in diabetes. M. Od i n (Acta Med. Scand., Suppl., 1927, X V III, 1— 573).— In mild diabetes the carbon dioxide capacity of the blood (C), the total acid excretion, and the p R of the urine are normal, but there is increased acetonuria; in severe diabetes C is generally low. The total acidity of the urine is less when C is less than 30 vol.-% than when it is 30— 39 v ol.-% . In coma, 0 is always below 30 v o l.-% ; when it is below 25 vol.-% there is always coma. During coma there is a rise in the blood-sugar value. The urinary acid and acetone excretion often decreases during coma. Coma due to lack of insulin is ascribed to a lag in the production of ammonia.
A fat-vegetable diet causes G to rise, until the urine actually becomes alkaline. (Edema is considered to be due to an excessive value of O. Changes in the value of C, the total acidity and p a of the urine following a meal have been followed for normal and diabetic subjects. The effects on acid production of varying the diet have also been investigated.
Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s. C h olesterol con ten t of the b lo o d -p la s m a as an in d ex o f p r o g r e ss in in su lin -treated d ia b etics.
I. M. Rabinowitch (Canad. Med. Assoc. J., 1927, 17, 171—175).— The blood-lipin is a better index of the course of diabetes than is the 'blood-sugar. An increased blood-cholesterol value is not compatible with an improvement in pancreatic function.
Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s.
D ia gn ostic value of the diastatic en zym e of the urine. L . I v r e y b e r g (Norsk Mag. Lsegeviden- skap., 1926, 2 4 , 992— 1003).— Acute diseases of the pancreas and salivary glands arc usually accompanied by a considerable rise in the diastatic index of the urine. The normal index (number of c.c. of 1 in 103 starch solution transformed by 1 c.c. of urine) ranges between 4 and 64. C h e m ic a l A b s t r a c t s .
E x p erim en ta l lea d h sem atoporphyria. H.
L ie b ig (Arch. exp. Path. Pharm., 1927, 1 2 5 , 16—
28).— The administration of lead b y mouth or intra- peritoneally to rabbits causes them to excrete haematoporphyrin in the urine and fasces. The origin of the pigment appears to be in the bone- marrow and it is not secreted in the bile as is the case in sulphonal poisoning. A method is given for the determination of haematoporphyrin in the urine and
faeces. W . O. K e rm a ck .
C h em ical nature of the se ru m -g lo b u lin of the h sem atoporph yrin ra b b it. M. K o m a tsu (J. Bioehem. [Japan], 1927, 7 , 19— 26).—The nitrogen: sulphur ratios of normal serum-albumin and -globulin of rabbits are 9-94 and 20-5, respectively.
The sulphur content indicates that the globulin, which show's an increase of 50% in haematoporphyrin rabbits, retains its normal chemical constitution.
Ch e m ic a l Abstr ac ts. B lo o d -c h e m istr y in le p ro sy . II. A lkali re
serve. E. M. Pa r a s (Philippine J. Sci., 1927, 33, 155— 167).— The Van Slyke method for the determin
ation of carbon dioxide capacity has been performed on 110 specimens of blood-plasma from cases of leprosy classified as follows : (a) leprosy without com plication; (b) lepra reaction without alkali treatment; (c) lepra reaction with alkali treatment;
(e) leprosy with tuberculosis; (e) leprosy with nephritis;
(/) leprosy with miscellaneous complications such as malaria, anaemia, osteoarthritis, etc. The mean value obtained for the normal healthy adult was 70 vol.-% of carbon dioxide. The following results have been obtained respectively: (a) no significant variation from the normal mean, mean value for 41 cases 67-9; (b) no significant variation, mean value for 19 cases 66-5; (c) characteristic indications of alkalosis in some cases, mean value for 16 cases 75-7; (d) no significant variation, mean value for 7 cases 72; (e) significant reduction, mean value for 8 cases 61; (/) significant reduction, mean value for 19 cases 59-6. There appears to be no correlation between the alkali reserve, and the duration, type, or stage of the disease. E. A. Lu s t. Id en tity of u rin a ry a lb u m in . L. F. Hewitt
(Bioehem. J., 1927, 2 1 , 1109— 1111).— Purified albumins excreted in the urine of patients with chronic nephritis or albuminuria of pregnancy have been isolated, purified, and examined for their rotatory power and dispersion. They do not differ in these respects from serum-albumin. S. S. Zil v a.
K idn ey ph osph atase. II. T h e enzyme in disease. R . T. B r a i n a n d H. D. K a y (Bioehem. J..
1927, 2 1 , 1104— 1108).—B o th in c h r o n i c nephritis m m a n a n d in a cu te exp erim en ta l nephritis in rabbi s th e ph osp h a ta se a c tiv ity o f th e renal tissue is marked y
re d u ce d . S. S. Z ilv a .
P reven tion of tetany b y oral adm inistration of a m m o n iu m ch loride. W . F. We n n e r (Amer.
J. Physiol., 1927, 81, 612— 619).— Oral adminis
tration of ammonium chloride prevents and cures tetany in parathyroidectomised dogs. Its action is due, probably, to an increased acidity of the blood and consequent rise in serum-calcium.
R. K. Ca n n a n. D ecreased n itrogen secretion du rin g p re g nancy. S. St e f a n c s ik (Magyar Orvosi Arch., 1927, 28, 156— 160).— Accumulation of urea in the liver does not occur. Use of amino-acids by the foetus accounts for the low concentration of these substances in the blood. Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s.
T h e o ry of m u scle con tra ction w ith X -ra y diffra ction pattern s fr o m rela xed and con tracted m u scles. J. H. C l a r k (Amer. J. Physiol., 1927, 82, 181— 194).— It is suggested that lactic acid production leads to contraction by reason of an abrupt conversion of the substance in the anisotropic bands from the liquid crystal into the solid crystal state. It is shown that under the influence of slight increases in acidity the myelin forms of ammonium oleate contract with the formation of acicular crystals.
X -R ay diffraction patterns of relaxed and contracted muscles show two distinct differences. In the con
tracted state the zones, representing first, second, and third order reflexion from equidistant molecular planes, show a fairly well-defined ring at the edge and an increase in diameter. These differences suggest an approach to a microcrystalline state. The distance between the molecular planes is 9-5
A.
in the relaxed and 8-5A.
in the contracted muscle. The distances probably refer to the widths of the molecules forming the equidistant planes. R. K . C a n n a n .D extrose and salt solu tion s recov ered fr o m Thiry-V ella lo o p s. H. L. Wh it e and J. Ra b in o-
w itch (J. Biol. Chem., 1927 , 74, 449— 454).— Solu
tions of dextrose in water or dilute sodium chloride were introduced into loops of the intestine of dogs with a Thiry-Vella fistula; after removal of the solution no mutarotation was observed. Slight differences which were sometimes observed between the reducing power and rotatory power of such solutions were accounted for by entrance into the solution from the gut of non- reducing lcevorotatory or non-dextrose reducing sub
stances. The results of Hewitt and Pryde (A., 1920, i, 508, 648) were therefore not confirmed.
C. R. Ha r in g t o n. Effect of p H on the re sp ira to ry exchange of the m uscle of the fr o g . M. Go m e l (Atti R. Accad.
Lincei, 1927, [vi], 5, 808—-812).— The respiratory exchange in the muscle of the frog has been determined between the values p u 9-1 and 3-0, using Jarisch’s and Mcllvaine’s solutions for the buffering medium, flight differences in the values obtained are reported, out m both cases the maximum respiratory exchange akes place at pn 7-1. The use of M cllvaine’s solution rings about a more rapid decrease in the respiratory exchange below pH 5-3 than the use of Jarisch’s so ution. Variations in the respiratory quotient are
also observed. E. A. Lu n t.
v f T'lral1' com pounds d erived fr o m sugars. J.
^arashima (Z. physiol. Chem., 1927, 169, 278—
296).— The administration of chitose to the dog, hen, frog, and rabbit leads to the excretion in the urine of small amounts of hydroxyinethylpyromucic acid, the maximum yield being 6-3% of the chitose administered.
That hydroxyinethylpyromucic acid is one of the main products of metabolism of chitose appears improbable, however, since feeding with hydroxymethylfurfur- aldehyde results in the excretion of 66-7% of the acid as hydroxymethylpyromucic acid. Chitonic acid and chitaric acid yield no hydroxymethylpyromucic acid in these feeding experiments. The preparation of hydroxymethylpyromucyl chloride (5-hydroxymethyl- fumn-l-carboxyl chloride), b. p. 120°/9 mm., hydroxy- methylpyrorrmcic acid, m. p. 167° (uncorr.), and hydroxymethylpyromucylglycina,
0H-CH2-C4H20-C0-NH-CH2-C02H, is described.
A . WORMALL.
B ehaviour of isoquinoline in the anim al organism . M. Ta k a h a s h i (Z. physiol. Chem., 1927, 169, 297—299).—After subcutaneous injection of isoquinoline, the methylated compound has been isolated in small quantities from the urine of the dog and the hen, but not of the rabbit. A. Wo r m all.
D etoxication of benzoic acid in m an. J. L.
Br a k e f ie l d (J. Biol. Chem., 1927, 74, 783— 785).—
After administration of 5— 6 g. of benzoic acid to human subjects, more than 90% was recovered from the urine as hippuric acid; a trace of free benzoic, but no benzoylglycuronic acid was detected.
C. R . Ha r in g t o n. U tilisation of calcium of spinach. L. Mc La u g h lin (J. Biol. Chem., 1927, 74, 455— 462).—
Storage of calcium in adult women was not impaired when 70% of the total intake of this element was supplied in the form of spinach.
C. R . Ha r in g to n. G row th and reproduction on synthetic diets.
II. G. A. Ha r t w e l l (Biochem. J., 1D27, 21, 1076—
1086).—Three generations of rats have been reared on a synthetic diet of butter, caseinogen, potato starch, salt mixture, marmite, and distilled water. The substitution of cod-liver oil for butter in this diet produces less good growth and causes sterility.
Synthetic diets are described which produce good growth in young rats, but cause inability of the young to be born and consequent death of the doe. The dietary requirements of the rat vary at different phases of its existence. S. S. Zil v a.
P hysiology of reproduction in birds. X X II.
B lood-fat and -phosphorus in the sexes. 0 . Rid d l e and F. H. Burns (Amer. J. Physiol., 1927, 81, 711— 724).— During the ovulation cycle in female ring-doves there is a notable increase in the fat and lipoid phosphorus of the blood. The relation of the ovary to this increase is discussed and the question of sex inequalities in fat metabolism reviewed.
R . K . Ca n n a n. N itrogen equilibrium and nitrogen balance.
E xperim ents w ith rye bread. A. Putter (Z.
Biol., 1927, 86, 317— 344).— A discussion, based on experimental evidence, of the preliminary conditions necessary for the attainment of suitable basal con
ditions for feeding experiments. Experiments on nitrogen equilibrium in which these conditions are not
1 1 0 8 BRITISH CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS.----A.
fulfilled give too high values for the nitrogen adminis
tration with which equilibrium is reached.
W . Ro b s o n. R o le o f the lu n gs in in term ed ia ry n itrogen ou s m e ta b o lism . I. T o ta l and resid u a l n itrogen content of arterial b lo o d and o f b lo o d fr o m the rig h t h eart in the n o r m a l a n im a l and after in travenous in jection s o f seru m . II. [With S!
Rrassov it zk aja . ] R esidu a l n itro g e n con ten t of the defibrin ated b lo o d flo w in g to and fr o m the isola ted lung. A. M. Ts c h a k n y (Biochem. Z., 1927, 188, 372— 377 ; 378— 380).— I. In dogs, the arterial blood flowing from the lungs contains much less residual nitrogen than the blood flowing to the lungs" from the right heart. This decrease is still greater after injection of serum. Some of the residual nitrogen is therefore retained by the lung.
II. Experiments with the isolated organ confirm the view that nitrogen accumulation takes place in the lung. P. W . Cl u t t e r b u c k.
A m in o -n itr o g e n in the e g g of B o tn b ix m o ri.
M. Ti r e l l i (Arch. Farm, sperim. Sci. all., 1927, 43, 115— 128).— The determination b y Monzini (Ann. R.
Staz. Bac. Padova, 1921, [v], 43, [2]) showed that the amino-nitrogen in the eggs of the silkworm moth increases during incubation, but in a slight and transient amount. It is now found that tho amino- nitrogen is greater in the fresh or hibernated eggs than in those which have been incubated, in which the values oscillate, decreasing during the first phase and subsequently increasing. Variations in the nitrogen in eggs of the “ yellow native ” and “ white Chinese ” moths, and of crosses, are discussed.
E . W . Wig n a l l. Influ en ce of fat and ca rb oh y d ra te diets on u ric a cid of b lo o d . V. J. Ha r d i n g, K . D. Al l i n, and B. A . Ea g l e s (J. Biol. Chem., 1927, 74, 631—
643).— The increase in the uric acid of the blood, previously observed (A ., 1925, i, 604) to result from a diet rich in fat, is accompanied b y decreased ex
cretion of uric acid. During the normal puerperium the uric acid of the blood is not increased b y a diet low in protein and rich in carbohydrate, although in the puerperium following toxaemia such diets do cause an increase in the uric acid.
C. R . Ha r in g t o n. M e ta b o lism of u r ic acid in the liv in g anim al.
V. S. J. Pr z y l e c k i (Arch. int. Physiol., 1926, 27, 159— 202).— The invertebrates are classified (a) according as they excrete (or contain) uric acid, or not (uricopositive, uriconegative), and (6) according as they decompose uric acid, or not (uricolytic, uricostatic). Uidike the higher vertebrates, certain invertebrates lack purine oxydases, whilst others readily oxidise endogenous or exogenous purines to uric acid. The decomposition, with vertebrates and invertebrates, of uric acid b y uricase proceeds only in the^ presence^ of oxygen, and terminates with allantoin. The invertebrates do not contain allan- toinase. Some can synthesise uric acid from acyclic compounds; the invertebrates cannot decompose allantoin, alloxan, dialuric acid, or barbituric acid to urea or ammonia. Whilst the first stage in tho catabolism of uric acid involves the elimination of
carbon dioxide, the last stage is the addition of a molecule of carbamide to the pyrimidine nucleus.
The two reactions are biologically irreversible. In the invertebrates no species can form uric acid from purines which cannot convert it into allantoin except those which do not contain it and those which form it from acyclic compounds. Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s.
P u rin e m e ta b o lism . III. B a sa l m eta b o lism and pu rin e content. IV . T h e n u clea r-p la sm ic ra tio in d o g s in ca rb oh y d ra te and p ro te in feeding and in starvation. R . Tr u s z k o w s k i (Biochem. J., 1927,21,1040— 1046,1047— 1053).— III. The chemical nuclear-plasmic ratios of whole rats and guinea-pigs differ little from one another. The values obtained for purine- and total nitrogen and for the nuclear- plasmic ratios of liver and of skeletal muscle of rats, rabbits, dogs, horses, and cattle vary within wide limits, but are in no way connected with the basal metabolism of the animals in question. The purine content of animals cannot therefore be identified with the intensity of the metabolism.
IV. The total nitrogen and purine contents of the liver of the dog are respectively 43 and 47% higher when the animal is fed on meat than when carbo
hydrates are consumed. The nuclear-plasmic ratio of the liver tissue in meat-fed dogs is almost the same as on a carbohydrate diet. The total solids of the skeletal muscle of dogs fed on meat are 14% higher than on carbohydrate diet. The total nitrogen and purine contents of skeletal muscle are respectively 35 and 49% higher in dogs fed with meat than in those fed on carbohydrates. The nuclear-plasmic ratio of skeletal muscle in meat-fed dogs is slightly higher than that found in carbohydrate feeding. In starvation, the nuclear-plasmic ratio of the liver is 10% above normal, whilst that of skeletal muscle is unchanged. These experiments do not support the view of protein storage. S. S. Zelva.
M e ta b o lism o f su lph u r. X III. Effect of elem en tary su lph u r on g r o w th o f white rat.
G. T. L e w is and H. B. L e w i s (J. Biol. Chem., 1927, 74, 515— 523).— Addition of flowers of sulphur to a diet deficient in cystine was not only u n a b l e to replace the latter, but also caused actual r e t a r d a t i o n
of growth, when given in small amounts. Addition of larger amounts of sulphur, even in presence of an adequate supply of cystine, caused toxic effects, presumably due to formation of hydrogen sulphide in
of growth, when given in small amounts. Addition of larger amounts of sulphur, even in presence of an adequate supply of cystine, caused toxic effects, presumably due to formation of hydrogen sulphide in