■Nov. ^ 19*3 
Physiological Effect of Gossypol 
235 
HEMOLYTIC ACTION OF GOSSYPOL 
Gossypol dissolves in dilute alkaline solutions, thereby neutralizing 
them. If such solutions are shaken a thick foam is formed as in the case 
of saponins. The hemolytic power was determined on sheep’s blood. 
The blood was washed three times by centrifuging. The corpuscles were 
then suspended in suitable concentrations in physiological salt solution. 
The experiment was conducted at room temperature, 20°C. Twenty- 
four cc. of diluted corpuscles were put into 30 cc. tubes and 1 cc. of a 
solution containing a varying quantity of gossypol in 0.6 per cent NaCl 
was added, the contents of the tube mixed, and the time of complete 
hemolysis noted. The concentration of the corpuscles and the results 
obtained are given in the following table: 
I .—Blood corpuscles diluted I cc. in 96 cc. 
Tube No. 
Gossypol 
added. 
Gossypol in 
tube. 
Approximate time of complete hemolysis. 
I . 
Gm. 
O. 025 
. 0125 
. 005 
. 0025 
. 00125 
. OO 
Per cent . 
O. 1 
•05 
. 02 
. OI 
.005 
. OO 
10 seconds. 
20 seconds. 
30 seconds. 
15 minutes. 
Only slight hemolysis noted in 3 hours. 
Unchanged in 5 hours. 
2. 
2. 
4. 
5 . 
6 . 
II .—Blood corpuscles diluted I cc. in 24 cc. 
Tube No. 
Gossypol 
added. 
Gossypol in 
tube. 
Approximate time of complete hemolysis. 
r. 
Gm. 
O. 025 
Per cent. 
O. I 
10 seconds. 
2. 
. 0125 
• 05 
20 seconds. 
3 . 
. 0005 
. 02 
35 seconds. 
4 . 
. 0025 
. OI 
Incomplete in 2 hours. 
5 .. 
. 00125 
.005 
Unchanged in 3 hours. 
6.. 
. OOO 
l 
. OOO 
Unchanged in 5 hours. 
EFFECT OF GOSSYPOL ON FISH 
Perch about .2 inches long were used in the following group of experi¬ 
ments. For each observation two fish were placed in a large jar contain¬ 
ing 5 liters of the gossypol solution. The controls showed no sign^of 
oxygen deficiency after nine hours. 
Experiment No. 
Amount of 
gossypol. 
Dilution of 
gossypol. 
Remarks. 
I. 
Gm. 
0. 1 
1150, 000 
1:50, 000 
1:100, 000 
Both fish died in 45 minutes. Before death 
fish rose often to the surface and gasped. 
Same as No. 1. Air bubbled through water 
had no effect. 
Both fish died in s.% hours. 
Same as No. 3. Air bubbled through the 
water had no effect. 
2 . 
. 1 
2. ... 
•05 
•05 
4. 
1:100, 000 
