424 THE LIVER. 



C 2 6H 43 OH, which occurs in wool-fat, and is therefore found to a great extent in 

 so-called lanolin. It gives the LIEBERMANN-BURCHARD reaction, but does not 

 give SALKOWSKI'S reaction. It melts at 138-138.5 C. The specific rotation in 

 7-per cent ethereal solution is () D = +60. 



Spongosterin is the name given by HENZE l to a cholesterin isolated by him 

 from a silicious sponge. It is very similar to cholesterin, but is not identical with 

 it or with phytocholesterins. It gives the LIEBERMANN-BURCHARD reaction as 

 well as SALKOWSKI'S reaction, but the last test is not quite so beautiful a red. 

 OBERMULLER'S reaction is negative. Melting-point 123-124. 



Bombicesterin is the name given by MENOZZI and MORESCHI 2 to a cholesterin 

 isolated by them from the chrysalis of the silkworm, which has a melting-point 

 of 148 and a specific rotation of ()= 34. 



The cholesterin occurring in the intestine is derived in part from the 

 food, in part from the bile and part, as shown from the contents of a 

 ligatured portion of the intestine (see Chapter IX), from the epithelium 

 or the secretion of the intestinal mucosa. That a part of the cholesterin 

 of the intestine disappears has been shown by KUSUMOTO, although 

 it remains undecided whether this takes place by bacterial decomposi- 

 tion or by absorption. LEVITES 3 on the contrary, recovered the cho- 

 lesterin introduced into dogs almost quantitatively. The behavior of 

 cholesterin in metabolism is not well known; LIFSCHUTZ believes that he 

 has detected by his color-reaction the oxidation products of choles j i>erin 

 in the blood and in bone-fat. 



The cholesterins belong to the so-called lipoids, which have been 

 mentioned in previous chapters (I and VI), and are of the greatest 

 importance as constituents of the outer envelope of erythrocytes and 

 the cells in general. Cholesterin is also of great interest because it inhibits 

 or prevents the haemolysis produced by certain bodies, and therefore 

 acts as a certain protective power in the animal body. This action of 

 the cholesterins in regard to inhibiting the hsemolytic action of saponin, 

 as first discovered by RANSOM, is destroyed, as shown by HAUSMANN, by 

 replacing the hydroxyl groups. These combinations between cholesterin 

 and saponins have been studied by MADSEN and NOGUCHI and by 



WlNDAUS. 4 



The so-called cholesterin-stones are best employed in the preparation 

 of cholesterin. The powder is first boiled with water and then repeatedly 

 boiled with alcohol. The cholesterin which on cooling separates from the 

 warm filtered solution is boiled with a solution of caustic potash in alcohol 



prakt. Chem. (N. F.), 25, 159. In regard to the formula for isocholesterin, see Darm- 

 etadterand Lifschiitz, Ber. d. deutsch. chem. Gesellsch., 31, and E. Schulze, ibid., 1200. 



1 Zeitschr. f . physiol. Chem., 41 and 55. 



2 Cited from Chem. Centralbl., 1908. 



3 Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 57. 



4 Ransom, Deutsch. med. Wochenschr., 1901; Hausmann, Hofmeister's Beitrage,. 

 6; Madsen and Noguchi, Kgl. Dansk. Vidensk. Selskabs. Forh., 1904; Windaus, Ber. 

 d. d. chem. Gesellsch., 42. 



