404 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL EXP. STA V RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. II 



A chromotogramm of this solution showed only one rose col- 

 ored zone which passed rapidly through the CaCO 3 column. A little 

 of the solution was evaporated into absolute alcohol and after mak- 

 ing the alcohol eighty per cent, the pigment was studied in regard 

 to its solubility properties toward petroleum ether (b. p. 30-50 C) 

 and carbon bisulphide respectively. In both cases the alcohol was left 

 absolutely colorless. In this case then, where the pigment was chiefly 

 from the remains of former corpora lutea, carotin was the only pig- 

 ment present. 



TABLE 5. ABSORPTION BANDS OF CORPUS LUTEUM CAROTIN IN CARBON 



BISULPHIDE. 



The final investigation was with the well-developed corpus lu- 

 teum from Holstein Cow No. 221. Both ovaries of the cow were 

 ground up with sand and plaster of paris and the mass extracted 

 with petroleum ether (b. p. 30-50 C.) until the extract was color- 

 less. The pigment thus extracted was carefully differentiated be- 

 tween the petroleum ether and 85 per cent alcohol. No pigment 

 whatever was extracted by the alcohol. The pigment was then sub- 

 mitted to saponification with KOH after transferring to alcohol. No 

 aldehyde resin pigments formed during saponification. The pig- 

 ment was extracted from the soap with ether. The ether extract 

 was thoroughly washed with water as usual and then concentrated at 

 a low temperature with the constant addition of petroleum ether so 

 that the pigment finally remained in petroleum ether solution. This 

 solution was then shaken with 85 per cent alcohol. The alcohol 

 extracted no pigment whatever. In this case then, although a nor- 

 mal corpus luteum was used, and the entire pigmented extract sub- 

 mitted to saponification, carotin was the only pigment present. 



The result of this study was to confirm the results of Escher * 

 that the corpus luteum pigment is identical in properties with caro- 

 tin. In addition we have shown that this pigment, like the prin- 

 cipal pigments of milk fat and body fat, may have associated with 



1. Loc. cit. 



