IMPORTANCE OF LEUCOCYTES IN GLYCOLYSIS 339 



In recent times a series of carefully conducted investiga- 

 tions have afforded important results in this connection, for 

 which we are indebted to A. Slosse, of Brussels, and his 

 collaborators, J. de Meyer and E. Vandeput. Primarily 

 these show that aseptic glycolysis in the blood is not an 

 alcoholic fermentation (even the most delicate tests indicate 

 not the slightest trace of either alcohol- or carbonic acid- 

 formation). The catabolism takes place in a much more 

 interesting manner, one molecule of glucose separating into 

 two of lactic acid, and the latter in turn into acetic acid and 

 formic acid. From the formic acid very small quantities of 

 CO can be produced. Sugar catabolism, therefore, accord- 

 ing to Slosse, characteristically follows this schema: 



Glucose 



Lactic Acid Lactic Acid 



^ ^ 



Acetic Acid Formic Acid 



Carbon Monoxide 



This, as will be referred to later, presents striking 

 analogies to the mode of decomposition of sugar under the 

 influence of alkalies. 23 



Importance of Leucocytes in Blood- glycolysis. J. de 

 Meyer ** suggests that in the formation of the glycolytic 

 blood ferment this is secreted as a preferment by the 

 leucocytes and that this is then activated by a substance 

 produced by the islands of Langerhans in the pancreas (the 

 latter, then, as &" substance sensibilatrice" or amboceptor). 

 E. Vandeput finds, in consonance with the older statements 

 of Lepine, that the glycolytic power of the blood of dogs is 

 distinctly reduced after removal of the pancreas, and that 



23 A. Slosse (Instit. Solvay, Brussels), Arch, initernat. de Physiol., 11, 153, 

 1911. 



M J. de Meyer (Brussels), Ann. de Tlnstit. Pasteur, 22, 778, 1908; Arch, 

 intern, de Physiol., 7, 317, 1909; 8, 204, 1909; Centralbl. f. Physiol., 23, No. 

 26, 1910; cf. therein Literature. 



