Further observations on testicular extract and its effect upon tissue permeability

The Biological Significance of Hyaluronic Acid and Hyaluronidase

“…The very wide distribution of hyaluronidase, however, was found after Chain and Duthie (8) discovered that the hyaluronidase activity of testicular extracts paralleled the activity of the "spreading factor", reported earlier by Duran-Reynals (27) and by McClean (46). Hyaluronidase activity, as measured by the hydrolysis or depolymerization of hyaluronic acid and hyaluronate-containing fluids, was then demonstrated in virulent and avirulent strains of type I pneumococcus (57), in a group C hemolytic streptococcus and in rabbit skin (ibid), in the venoms of many poisonous snakes, like copperhead, Black Tiger (9), rattl esnake (15), in bee venom (9), in Staph.…”

The release of hyaluronidase from spermatozoa

“…of hyaluronidase were retained by the spermatozoa which had been suspended in the hyaluronidase-containing Baker's solution. (McClean, 1942;Rogers, 1946), might have on hyaluronidase liberation, the following experiment was carried out.…”

“…Extraction of hyaluronida8e with water McClean (1931) showed that extracts of spermatozoa made with distilled water contain large amounts of the 'spreading factor' now known to be hyaluronidase. It was observed, however, that if an aqueous suspension of spermatozoa were assayed within a short time of being made up, the hyaluronidase value obtained was less than if the suspension had been allowed to stand for some hours before assaying.…”

The Relationship Between Spreading Factor and Hyaluronidase

“…The mechanism of spreading has also been studied by several investigators. McClean (10) has shown that the phenomenon occurs when injections are made in the isolated skin of a rabbit. Favilli (11), as well as Duran-Reynals (12), has further shown that the same phenomenon can be demon-SPREADING FACTOR AND YALURONIDASE strated in muscles, tendons, and in the walls of stomach and intestine.…”