On Histidinuria

Abstract

1. L‐histidine was given intravenously and orally to pregnant and non‐pregnant women, and was estimated in the blood by a modified diazo reaction and by its reaction with bromine in the urine. 2. On intravenous as well as on oral application, L‐histidine disappeared only very slowly from the blood‐stream of pregnant women as compared with non‐pregnant women, large amounts of it being simultaneously excreted in the urine. This observation does not confirm the results of Page, who found that on intravenous injection L‐histidine leaves the blood‐stream of pregnant women at least as quickly as that of non‐pregnant persons. It seems, moreover, to support the previously suggested theory of a reduced activity of histidase in human pregnancy. 3. In severe toxæmia of pregnancy no histidine could be detected in the urine even after the injection or ingestion of histidine although the blood levels remained high. This indicates a retention of L‐histidine by the kidney. 4. The results obtained in mild pregnancy toxæmia were intermediate between those found in severe toxæmia and in normal pregnancy.

The Metabolism of Methionine and Choline in Normal and Pre‐eclamptic Pregnant Women

“…This peculiarity of the kidney of the pregnant woman is a factor which must be considered in the interpretation of variations in the excretion of certain hormones during the course of pregnancy, e.g., adrenal cortical hormones, oestrogens, pregnanediol. It is a change which apparently does not occur in animals (Kapeller-Adler and Herrmann, 1934 : Sims, 1951).…”

A Series of Fully Substituted Ethylenediamines

“…Ti was omitted in 3 cats. Histaminase was prepared from fresh hog-kidney and its activity on the substrate was tested alone and in the presence of Ti and 2339 RP (2 x 10-' to 7 x l0-) according to Kapeller-Adler (1951). Antiadrenaline activity was examined on the blood pressure responses of atropinized spinal cats, cats anaesthetized with chloralose, rabbits anaesthetized with urethane, and dogs anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone or with sodium thiopentone followed by chlorbutol (1 ml.…”

“…These were separately caged for 24 hr. without food before individual fasting blood-sugar levels were determined by the modified Folin-Malmros method (Landgrebe and Munday, 1954). They were injected subcutaneously at 7 day intervals with 0.5 ml.…”