A LIPO-GEL REACTIOX. 233 



result was exactly the same as when follicular fluid is mixed with 

 spermatozoa, except that the coagulum was more translucent. 



Other organs which contain lipoid substances were then tested 

 in the same way. The following were tried: thyroid, para- 

 thyroid, pancreas, adrenal gland, hypophysis, corpus luteum, 

 skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, cerebrum, cerebellum, sub- 

 cutaneous fat, subperitoneal fat, uterine mucous membrane, 

 stomach, and lung. A positive reaction was obtained with all 

 of these except the last three. The coagulum in all of these 

 cases was quite similar and appeared under the same conditions 

 as the coagulum produced by sperm and follicular fluid. Size, 

 color, and time of formation vary a little with the organ used 

 but the general result is the same. 



Numerous experiments of this kind were performed; in each 

 case tests were made in the slaughter-house with organs from 

 freshly killed animals but without salt solution, and again in 

 the laboratory in the manner described above. Sometimes when 

 the reaction failed to occur when the tests were made at the 

 slaughter-house, it succeeded in the laboratory after the addition 

 of sodium chloride. Thus the reaction with different organs and 

 follicular fluid has the same characteristics as the reaction 

 between spermatozoa and follicular fluid. 



Furthermore the typical reaction is again obtained upon 

 mixing a commercial lipoid product kephalin (made by Armour 

 and Company) with follicular fluid. Extracts which I have 

 prepared from spermatozoa and medulla oblongata : likewise 

 give the coagulum when mixed with follicular fluid, although 

 the coagulum is rather thin. None of the extracts mentioned 

 nor kephalin give any reaction with amniotic fluid, aqueous 

 humor of the eye, or hydatic fluid. 



The reaction in all of these cases invariably fails to occur if 

 the follicular fluid is heated to 56 C. 



Thus the supposition that the coagulum results from the 

 action of a particular thermolabile substance in the follicular 



1 Spermatozoa or ground nervous tissue were kept 24 hours in 96 alcohol, than 

 24 hours more in ether; evaporation on water bath. The residue dissolved in 

 salt solution 0.9; centrifugation for elimination of cells themselves. The filtrates 

 used for tests. Cf. Loewe, S., "Zut physikalische Chemie der Lipoide, I.-IV., 

 Biochemische Zeilsch., Bd. 42, 1912. 



