428 THE GLASDULAR ORGANS. 



Of the character of the albuminous radicle which is present 

 in combination with the paranuclein nothing is known. The 

 j)arannclein has recently been studied in detail by Levene and 

 Alsberg. They term it avivitellinic acid, and give the following 

 iio-ures to express its elementary composition : 0,32.31; 11,5.58; 

 N. 13.13; P, 9.88; S, 0.326(> ; O, 38.28 per cent. In addition 

 thev I'onnd ( ).57 per cent, of iron, which is present in organic com- 

 bination. This is especially interesting in view of the fact that 

 Bunge also obtained a nuclei n from the yolk of hens' eggs, which 

 contained iron, and which he termed liannatoycn, as the product must 

 of necessity be concerned in the formation of the blood-coloring mat- 

 ter of the developing animal. The elementary composition of IJunge's 

 haematogen, however, is different from Levene's avivitellinic acid, 

 viz., C, 42.11 ; H, 6.08; N, 14.73; S, 0.55; P, 5.19; Fe, 0.29 ; 

 and O, 31.05 per cent. Its relation to ovovitellin is at present 

 not clear, but it is manifestly closely related to avivitellinic acid. 



The albuminous radicle of avivitellinic acid manifestly contains 

 the protamin group, as Levene was able to isolate both arginin and 

 histidin from its decomposition-products, which resulted on boiling 

 the substance for seventy-two hours with a 20 per cent, solution of 

 hydrochloric acid. Whether or not lysin is also present remains to 

 be seen. The amount of arginin. and histidin obtained was so small, 

 however, that it is scarcely warrantable to assume that a protamin 

 constitutes the entire albuminous radicle, as in the case of the nu- 

 cleins which can be obtained from certain fishes. The substance 

 gives Millon's reaction, moreover, which is not obtained with pro- 

 tainins. The biuret reaction was positive. For a more detailed 

 -account of Levene's most interesting work, and a description of the 

 method which was employed for isolating the avivitellinic acid, I 

 must refer the reader to his article. 1 



The ovivitellin as it is obtained from the yolk contains about 25 

 per cent, of lecithin. It is soluble in dilute solutions of the neutral 

 salts, and in very dilute (1 pro mille) solutions of hydrochloric acid, 

 and the hydrates and the carbonates of the alkalies. In water it 

 is insoluble, and accordingly is precipitated from its solutions on 

 copious dilution. On prolonged contact with water its properties 

 are changed, and it is converted gradually into an album inate-like 

 substance. Sodium chloride when added to saturation causes only 

 a partial precipitation. When slowly heated in its solutions of 

 neutral salts it coagulates between 70 and 75 C. ; when rapidly 

 heated, coagulation is retarded until 80 C. is reached. On diges- 

 tion with gastric juice ovivitellin yields a paranuclein avivitellinic 

 acid. From the ovivitellin of the eggs of the bony fishes a gluco- 

 paranuclein may be obtained. 



Elementary analysis of the ichthulin of carp eo-<r S has <rivon the 

 following results : ( J, 53.52 ; H, 7.6 ; N, 15.63 ; 6, 22.19 ; "S, 0.41 ; 

 P, O.J:}; and Fe, 0.1 percent. For the ichthulin of codfish eggs 

 1 Zeit. f. physiol. Chern., vol. xxxi. pp. 543-oO. 



