422 THE CHEMISTRY OF TUMORS 



(d) Ovarian cyst contents have been studied more than 

 almost any other tumor products, because in their gelatinous or 

 slimy substance are contained numerous interesting forms of. 

 proteids, many of which are combined with carbohydrates and 

 related to the true mucins. These substances are frequently 

 referred to under the names of pseudomucin, par albumin, metal- 

 bumin, and ovarian " colloid" and belong to the class of 

 " mucoids." l In view of the fact that the fluids in the Graafian 

 follicles of the ovary do not contain these particular forms of 

 proteid, their presence in cysts derived from adventitious struc- 

 tures (Pfliiger's epithelial tubes) suggests a specific form of 

 metabolism on the part of the epithelium of these structures. 



Serous cysts, formed by dilatation of Graafian follicles, usually 

 are small in size, and the contents resemble those of the normal 

 follicles (Oerum 2 ), consisting of a serous fluid with a specific 

 gravity usually from 1.005 to 1.014 (occasionally 1.020 or 

 more), and containing 1.0-4.0 per cent, of solids. Occasion- 

 ally in these cysts the contents become solidified through 

 absorption of the water, and a gelatinous or glue-like " colloid " 

 content results. Mucoids are never present (Pfannenstiel 3 ). 



Proliferating cystomas contain the peculiar characteristic 

 mucoid proteids mentioned above. Usually the contents are 

 fluid, but of a peculiar slimy, stringy character, due to the mucoid 

 substance, and often opalescent or slightly turbid. The specific 

 gravity is generally high 1.015-1.030. The reaction is usually 

 slightly alkaline to litmus, and neutral or slightly acid to phenol- 

 phthalein. If hemorrhage has occurred into them, the fluid is 

 discolored, and may contain blood-pigments in crystalline and 

 amorphous forms. Small cysts often show a condensation of 

 the proteids into a semisolid " colloid " material, but sometimes 

 their contents resemble those of a serous cyst. Often masses 

 of proteids fall out of solution, forming yellowish flocculi or 

 large deposits half filling the cysts. As with all stagnant fluids 

 of this type, cholesterin crystals are frequently found. The 

 characteristic proteids are members of the class of pseudo- 

 mucins, which are constantly present (Oerum). 



Chemistry of the Mucoids of Ovarian Cysts. Pseudomucin has 

 the following elementary composition: C, 49.75; H, 6.98; N, 10.28; 

 S, 1.25 ; O, 31.74 per cent. (Hammarsten). In common with the true 

 mucins it yields a sugar-like reducing body, which has been investigated 



1 Concerning mucoids see Mann's " Chemistry of the Proteids," 1906, pp. 

 541-551. 



2 See Maly's Jahresbericht, 1884 (14), 459. 



3 Arch. f. Gynsek., 1890 (38), 407 (literature). 



