Mucolytic Effect of Natural and Artificial Spreading Factors: Mucolytic Effect of Several Diffusing Agents and af a Dlazotized Compound

Abstract

CHAIN and Duthie1 have recently reported that a purified testis extract, which contains the so-called 'spreading factor’ that increases the permeability of the tissues, has a remarkable mucolytic activity: the viscosity of synovial fluid falls very rapidly when it is mixed with a tenth of its volume of the extract. The loss of viscosity is followed by liberation of N-acetyl glucosamine and reducing substances. Bacterial filtrates in which the spreading factor is present were found to have a similar action on mucin. These observations suggest that the diffusing and mucolytic activities may be due to the same factor, and it is of interest therefore to determine whether diffusing factors from other sources show a similar mucolytic effect. The solutions to be tested have been added to fresh bovine synovial fluid in a proportion of one to ten volumes and the mixtures incubated at 38° C. The following facts have been observed.