THE tertiary alkylamine, trimethylamine (NC3H9), and the quarternary alkylamine, trimethylamineoxide (NC3H,=0), are derived mainly from the alkanolamines, choline (betaine), whose sources are the lecithines, proteins (oxyaminoacids), of the body and also of the food. The enzyme cholinesterase also rapidly and constantly hydrolyses acetylcholine, ubiquitous in every nervous and muscular activity, to the almost inert derivative choline. Choline (betaine) readily splits trimethylamine and its oxide off under hydrolytic and oxidative agencies-under the influence of many bacteria, and also within the living cells of higher plants and animals. The major part of these metabolites is deaminized and resynthesized in the liver of mammals (via NH3 to urea); a very much smaller fraction is excreted in the urine as the oxide, and only a minute quantity as free trimethylamine [Guggenheim, 1940]. Trimethylamine is known to accumulate in the sex organs of many plants and animals [Czapek, 1925]. Havas [1938] reported recently that Rhodeus amarus, Rana esculenta and Triton cristatus, when placed in an aquarium containing 1: 104 to 1: 106 trimethylamine, 34 months after the cessation of the mating season, soon begin to show their 'nuptial colours' and exhibit quite unseasonable mating behaviour. Zweifel [1877, 1881] pointed out the existence of trimethylamine in vaginitis emphysematosa or colpohyperplasia, and further suggested that its presence in the vesicles of the vagina might be responsible for this pathological condition. He also expressed the suspicion that trimethylamine was always present, in varying amounts, in the vagina of the healthy woman. Michin [1903] also called attention to the presence of trimethylamine in the vaginal secretions of women of child-bearing age and its complete absence after the climacteric.
STARTING from the observation that heart dilatation sometimes occurs at high altitudes Ta k euchi(1) recently correlated the degree of dilatation of the heart with the oxygen content of the arterial blood in cats.He recorded the changes in heart size by using the cinematograph method. Prof. Barcroft suggested that we should repeat the experiments cardiometrically.Methods. In order to vary the oxygen content in the air breathed we devised an arrangement for mixing air with nitrogen.
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