INTRODUCTIOXQualitat ive evidence indicates that fat solvent ariestlietics such as ether and chloroform cause a release of calcium in the cells of the aquatic plmant, Elodea (JIazia and Clark, '36), and in the protozoan, Aw2ocbu p r o t c m (Daugherty, '37). This study presents some quantitative evidence of calcium release in cells of higher animals under the influence of hot11 fat solvent and non-fat solvent anesthetics (cocaine). MATER.IALS AND METHODS1. Awsthetbc solutions. The anesthetic solutions used were 2% ether, 0.4% chloroform and 27. cocaine in unbuffered frog Ringer. According to Winterstein ('26, pp. 13 and 294), tliese are anesthetic concentrations for frogs.2. Mirsclr fibrr preparations. The combined right and left gastrocnemei of 4 frogs (Rniza pipi~ws) were used for each experiment. The whole muscles were removed from each leg and placed in 1 ml of frog Ringer solution on a black glazed plate. The muscle fibers were teased away from the connective tissue with fine steel needles. The fibers from the 4 ])airs of niiisclcs were thoroughly mixed, lightly blotted with calcium-A dissertation presented to tlie faculty of the Drpnrtment of Zoology of the University of Peiins?lvnnia in p r t i a l fulfillment of tlie requirements for the degree of Doctor of Pliilosopliy.Junior fellow of tlie National Institntr of Health, 1947-48.delphia 4, P a . 95
There is now abundant evidence that tumors of cold blooded vertebrates are essentially similar in morphology and behavior to the corresponding types of tumors in birds and mammals, including man (1, 2). Little, however, is known about their chemical activities. A promising approach to investigations in this field is the study of enzymatic properties of tumors. For these purposes the kidney carcinoma of the leopard frog (Rana pipiens) is excellent material; it occurs as a "spontaneous" tumor in frogs living under natural conditions (3); it is readily available and attains a size adequate for analysis; the frogs can be maintained over a wide range of environmental temperature, the effects of which upon enzymatic processes can thus be determined.The present study deals with the enzyme catalase, whose properties have been thoroughly investigated in cancer of warm blooded animals, chiefly mice and rats (4). In mammals two main changes in catalase activity with respect to cancer have been found. First, the catalase activity of any kind of neoplastic tissue is uniformly low. Second, any kind of cancer no matter where located, if sufficiently large, has systemic effects on enzyme systems, the most sensitive indicator of which is diminution of catalase activity of the liver. The results of our experiments will be presented in the following order: (a) Comparison between catalase activity of normal frog kidneys and of kidney tumor; (b) catalase activity of normal or non-tumorous portions of kidneys from tumorbearing frogs; (c) comparison between liver catalase activity of normal and of tumor-bearing frogs; (d) correlation between catalase activity of tumors and of livers from the tumor-bearing frogs; (e) effect of environmental temperature upon catalase activity; (f) effect of intracoelomic injection of homogenates of kidney tumor and of kidney upon liver catalase. Material and MethodsAdult normal frogs of both sexes and frogs with palpable renal tumors were kept on thick pads of wet cotton in individual aquarium jars. They were housed in thermostatically controlled rooms, the temperature of which for most series was 18°C.; in one series two additional temperatures, 8°C. and 26.5°C., were used.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.