296 John H. Welsh 



an ultraviolet absorption spectrum very similar to, if not identical with, that of 

 urocanylcholine. 



Erspamer and Benati (1953) report that urocanylcholine (murexine) has intense 

 curariform action. A more detailed account of this phase of their work has not yet 

 been seen. However, it appears that a substance such as murexine might account, 

 at least in part, for the paralyzing action of nematocyst poison. Since the hypobran- 

 chial glands of Murex also contain large amounts of 5-HT (see Erspamer (1954) for 

 references), it could be that a combination of this with urocanylcholine yields a mixture 

 with useful properties in defence and for securing food. It would be strange indeed, 

 should this combination of newly discovered compounds be found in such unrelated 

 structures as the nematocysts of coelenterates and the hypobranchial glands of certain 

 moUusca. 



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