activity similar to that produced by extracts of the northern species. 

 Treated mice showed evidence of inhibition and regression of carcinoma. 

 There was no evidence of toxicity, such as weight loss, appetites appeared 

 normal, eyes were clear, and coats of hair healthy. Control mice with 

 implanted tumors showed all symptoms characteristic of controls in previous 

 experiments with M. mereenaria. HeLa cells were completely degenerated by 

 clam extract in 72 hrs. (Abstracter's note: some of the 10 papers cited are 

 abstracted elsewhere in this bibliography. Because titles are not included 

 in the list, we made no attempt to locate and read the others.) - J.L.M. 



1634 



Schmeer, M. R., and G. Beery. 1966. 



Mercenene: Some observations of cytological effects in vivo and in vitro. 

 (Cited as in preparation in 1966.) 



Could not locate. Search terminated. - J.L.M. 



1635 



Schmeer, Sister M. Rosarii, O.P.,and Rev. J. D. Cassidy, O.P. 1966. 



Mercenene: Preliminary analysis of induced focal changes in the Krebs-2 

 carcinoma fine structure. Biol. Bull. 131(2): 405-406. 



Mercenene was extracted from Mereenaria, purified, and administered to 4-5 

 week old female CF1 mice implanted with Krebs-2 carcinoma. After 7 days, 

 autopsy and tumor biopsy were performed on half the treated mice and all 

 untreated animals. The remaining 45 treated mice were held for 6-month 

 longevity study. Examination of nuclei, nucleolar apparatus, membranes, 

 Golgi zone, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and RNP particles of 

 untreated cells showed no changes. In mercenene-treated tumor cells 

 changes were observed in polysomes, free ribosomes , nuclear envelope, and 

 nucleolar apparatus. Quantitative alteration by mercenene at these sites 

 suggested possible antagonism of protein metabolism in cancer cells. 

 Induced oncolysis, reflected in fine-structure changes, could further 

 elucidate the antitumor activity of mercenene. Cytochemical studies were 

 underway to test this hypothesis. - J.L.M. 



1636 



Schmeer, M. Rosarii, and Cecilia V. Huala. 1965. 



Mercenene: In vivo effects of mollusk extracts on the Sarcoma 180. Ann. N.Y. 

 Acad. Sci. 118(15): 603-610. 



Mereenaria mereenaria, Ostrea virginioa, Busycon eanalieulatum, Loligo sp.,and 

 a land snail (Helix spJ were tested as possible sources of antitumor agents on 

 Sarcoma 18 in Swiss albino mice. Extract was prepared from ground mollusk 

 meats, with sterile water. Test animals receiving M. mereenaria extract had 

 greatest increase in body weight but smallest tumor size. Mice receiving 

 mollusk extracts were less irritable than controls. Tumor growth in controls 

 produced marked increase in weight, and these animals had poor appetites. 

 Mereenaria extract had greatest antitumor activity. By 10th day all control 

 animals were dead. Preliminary tests suggested that mollusk extracts were 

 non-toxic. Between 80 and 100% of all experimental lots treated with 

 Mereenaria extract survived until sacrificed 6 months later. All produced 

 normal litters of offspring. - J.L.M. 



1637 



Schmeer, M. Rosarii, and Charles G. Wilber. 1965. 



Mercenene: Growth-inhibitor extracted from natural products. Federation Proc. 

 24: 403 (abstract 1514) . 



Extracts from edible mollusks inhibit development and cause regression of 

 sarcoma 180 and Krebs-2 carcinoma tumor in Swiss mice. Of all mollusks 

 studied, Mereenaria was the most promising source of mercenene. The active 

 agent, in crude form, can be extracted with water, ammonium sulphate, and 

 organic solvents. Additional purification produces an effective active 



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